Tasnim � A senior official at the Progress and Development Headquarters (PDH) of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced that the headquarters is implementing pilot development projects with the aim of alleviating deprivation in 1200 villages.

Speaking to reporters in the southern city of Shiraz on Saturday, Ebrahim Ahmadi pointed to the PDH�s efforts to eliminate deprivation in rural areas across Iran and said, �Deprivation has different definitions.�

�The PDH�s activity has been defined in various areas of culture, employment, livelihoods, infrastructure, development, health, etc., and is not limited to development issues,� he said.

The official went on to say that 1,200 villages in different parts of the country have been selected to host pilot projects aimed at eliminating deprivation.

The IRGC has carried out extensive plans in recent years for the development of border provinces and underprivileged areas, such as in the southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan.

IRGC forces have been also actively involved in rescue and relief operations in natural disasters across Iran.