Saudi Arabia to provide 10,000 pre-fabricated houses to Pakistan
'Pakistan Times' Diplomatic Desk

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia is to provide 10,000 pre-fabricated houses for landless affectees of the earthquake-hit areas next month.

Deputy Chairman Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra), Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmad said this at a news briefing in Islamabad Friday. He said half of these houses would go to the landless people in Balakot and the rest to Muzaffarabad and some other landslide-prone areas in Azad Kashmir.

He hoped that Kuwait would also provide 200 pre-fabricated houses and efforts are being made to meet the shortfall through International Organisation of Migration.

The deputy chairman Erra said a decision has been taken to move the Balakot town to a new site called Bakrial. Libya is expected to meet all the expenditure on the development of the town.

Detailed topographic survey is underway and town planning would begin on its completion.

About Muzaffarabad, he said, developing a new city is easier than restoring the old one due to multifarious problems. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had prepared a draft land use plan that has been modified in consultation with all stakeholders.

He said a bye-pass would be constructed and Muzaffarabad University is to be moved to Chhattar.

Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmad said Rawalakot is to be developed as tourist attraction and Nespak has been assigned the task of town planning there. He said the University of Engineering and Technology Lahore is undertaking town planning of Bagh and the first draft is expected in about a fortnight.

He said policies on environment; industry and tourism are being prepared. To a question, he expressed the confidence that construction activity in earthquake-affected areas would gather momentum during the next few months.

He emphasized that people should take full advantage of Erra hubs and start rebuilding their houses as soon as possible. The hubs are fully functional at Battagram, Shinkiari, Oghi, Mansehra, Muzaffarabad, Abbottabad, Bagh and Rawalakot.

Referring to the livelihood programme, he said Rs. one billion have been distributed among 150,000 families in Mansehra, Battagram, Abbottabad, Muzaffarabad and Bagh.

Disbursement would begin soon in Rawalakot while registration process is underway in Neelum Valley, Kohistan and Shangla.

General Nadeem said 139 health facilities are to be developed in quake-hit areas with sponsorship from donors. He said of the 6,299 educational institutions, 25% would be constructed in the first year.

Responding to questions, he said a sponsors' conference is expected to be held on 8th of October to get sponsorship for various projects and programmes.

He said the prime minister has approved almost all major policies including budgets worth Rs.1.3 billion for social protection of vulnerable groups, Rs.27 billion for transport and Rs.13.68 billion for livelihood.●