Northern Areas Strategy for Sustainable Development
Northern Areas spread over 72000 sq. km is a rich mix of human and natural resources including cultures, languages, plants, animals and habitats. Around a million people live in this land of high mountain peaks, glaciers, alpine pastures, forests, lakes, plateaus, valleys and rivers. Rapid growth in population, poverty, low quality of life, unsafe drinking water, lack of sanitation, deforestation, depleted pastures, low productivity of agriculture and livestock, declining wildlife, soil erosion, degrading watershed and tourism values of natural resources, rapid and uncontrolled urbanization and unplanned tourism are only some of the major concerns that have alarmed the NA Administration. There are many constraints being faced in realizing the opportunities for development of agriculture, hydle power, tourism and mining. A clear vision of the future is necessary.
The Northern Areas Strategy for Sustainable Development (NASSD) presents such a vision and a strategic framework for economic, social, cultural and ecological well being of the people of Northern Areas. It provides a road map to improved governance; integrated gender, environment and sustainability; prioritized development needs; and creation of an enabling environment by improving policies and legislation, besides their compliance and enforcement for harnessing potential of sustainable development in all key sectors. Governance focuses on objectivity, transparency, accountability; cross-sectoral linkages; participatory and integrated planning and management; and strengthening institutional and human capacities.
The Planning and Development Department, NA formulated the Northern Areas Strategy for Sustainable Development (NASSD) in collaboration with all stakeholders. The NASSD was developed under the (Northern Areas Conservation Strategy) NACS Support Project, which is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC) and the Norwegian Agency for Development (NORAD). This work is supported technically by IUCN – The World Conservation Union. The formulation of NASSD is being guided by a high-level Steering Committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary, NAs.
The NASSD is premised on three principles – participation of stakeholders in its formulation and implementation; human and institutional capacity building of stakeholders; and mainstreaming environmental considerations into planning and development processes.
After the identification of the sectors and themes in extensive public consultations, 17 background papers were commissioned that provide scientific knowledge, analysis and options for the future. The background papers include Natural Resource Management, Development and Socio-economic sectors.
The SoED and NASSD bring forth a comprehensive knowledge of current situation, issues, and a vision for the future. Sector specific guidelines have been developed for 4 – 5 key sectors for integrating environment and bringing sustainability at policy, programme and project levels. A popular version of the NASSD was also produced in English and Urdu in 2003.
An enabling environment has been created during the process of NASSD formulation, which is vital to catalyze implementation. The activities included participatory planning, capacity building, networking, raising awareness, advocacy, policy and legal reform, and operationalization of sectoral and thematic interest groups (IGs), or roundtables (RTs), and other civil society fora. The NASSD is expected to be a common framework for sustainable development of the Northern Areas public and private sectors, NGOs, donors, varied stakeholders and individuals. It was therefore important that all stakeholders worked closely with the NACS team to include their agenda and priorities in the NASSD and identify their roles and responsibilities in implementation.
For further details please visit the website at http://www.northernareas.gov.pk/nassd
