Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has urged the international community to
help Pakistan in the completion of reconstruction projects particularly
in the education sector in the quake affected areas of Azad Kashmir and
Khyber Pakhtunkhawa province.
Addressing the ERRA’s donors and sponsors conference in Islamabad on
Tuesday, the prime minister said though several projects have been
completed at a cost of 365 billion rupees, concerted efforts are
required to complete the remaining work in the disaster hit areas.
Emphasizing upon the completion of education projects without any
delay, the prime minister said that the government will continue to
provide all possible assistance for the complete reconstruction of
affected areas.
Appreciating the work of ERRA, Prime Minister Gilani said, it has
achieved several landmarks from the early recovery phase to the
completion of various projects in the infrastructure, water and
sanitation, urban and rural housing to many other interventions in the
social sector. The completion of these projects have brought a sea
change in the lives of afflicted population
He said it is highly satisfying that in a short span of time, the
earth quake reconstruction and rehabilitation authority has received
international recognition by receiving UN’s Sasakawa Award and ISO
9001:2008 certification which is a matter of great pride for the entire
nation. He said over the years this organization has evolved into an
efficient disaster management outfit, with robust standard operating
procedures and quality control mechanisms
He said the government has also accorded ERRA a permanent status and
extended its ambit to all the four provinces. He said we are also in
the process of renaming ERRA as National Reconstruction and
Rehabilitation Authority to give more responsibilities to this vital
institution.
Acknowledging the contributions of international community in the
early recovery and reconstruction activities, the prime minister said
the concept of ‘Build Back Better’ in the disaster hit area would not
have been made possible without the active and sustained support of the
bilateral and multilateral donors. He expressed the confidence that the
donors will continue to extend helping hand for the completion of
remaining work.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman ERRA Hamid Yaar Hiraj commended
the international community’s quick and rapid response in the wake of
2005 earthquake. He said the international community stood by its
commitment of financial pledges and has so far contributed 5.7 billion
dollars for the reconstruction activities.
Deputy Chairman ERRA Sardar Mahmood Ali Khan on the occasion gave an
overview of ERRA’s reconstruction activities. He said 12927 projects
have so far been completed in the affected areas while work on the
remaining is in full swing. He said that the quake destroyed 5782
educational institutions and so far only thirty percent of the
educational facilities have been reconstructed. He said there is need
for more funding in the completion of projects in the education sector.
Representatives of international donor countries and agencies while
applauding ERRA’s work assured to provide every possible assistance for
the completion of reconstruction phase. SANA
