Oreination Workshop held by the Institute of Geography, Urban & Regional Planning University of Peshawar

PESHAWAR: To help the decision makers and planners in FATA, have a fair understanding of the prospects and constraints in using Geographical Information System (GIS) tool, a one day orientation workshop was held on “ Use of GIS and Remote sensing Technologies for Planning and Monitoring” at PUTA hall Peshawar University here on March 27th2014. 
The workshop held by the Institute of Geography, Urban & Regional Planning University of Peshawar, was attended by Secretary P&D FATA, Shahzad Khan Bangash, Additional Director General Projects FATA Yousaf Rahim, Coordinator PCNA ISU FATA Muhammad Zahoor, Director General Monitoring & Evaluation Sajjad Khan, officers of Line departments, Directorate of Monitoring & Evaluation FATA, Implementation Support Unit FATA and persons from academia.. Secretary Planning & Development FATA, Shahzad Khan Bangash while addressing the participants said that it was an important subject which the FATA secretariat had to understand for better results.
He said that billion of rupees were being spent in tribal region but there was no integrated data hopping that the new system will be helpful in getting integrated data in FATA.

“FATA people have been raising voice for improved service delivery instead of erecting new buildings and we are positive that the new system will help us avoid duplication and focus on what the masses want” He maintained.
He explained that FATA Secretariat wanted to use the new technology for having images of all the schemes inside FATA and hoped that line directorates will make a good use of the system for the best service delivery. Shahzad Bangash said that all the line directorates will be pushed to get acquainted with the new system and make a good use of the system for the well being of the FATA people. Coordinator Implementation Support Unit FATA Muhammad Zahoor speaking on the occasion said that the new technology will help the government in getting clear picture of all happening on ground. He added that the introduction of GIS tool will also let the government know how many people are getting benefited from different interventions. Speakers made meticulous and comprehensive presentation on an array of subjects including Geo Spatial Data: A major emerging tool in Monitoring & Evaluation; Use of Traditional and Digital Cartographic Techniques in Planning; Evidence based planning; Theories and Principles of Remote Sensing and Display of DATA Input Vs output using GIS as a tool for Monitoring & Evaluation.
Those who made presentations on the occasion included Prof. Dr. Muhammad Aslam Khan,Prof. Dr. Fazlur Rehman, Prof. Dr. Amir Khan, Dr. Zulfiqar Ali and Asif Turangzai. Participants of the workshop took active part in the workshop and raised various questions about implementation and usage of the GIS system.
It needs to be mentioned that the Institute of Geography, Urban & Regional Planning University of Peshawar is developing a GIS tool for FATA Secretariat under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) inked between the two entities early this year. This interactive session will be followed by more workshops to get the FATA Secretariat acquainted with the new system.

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