ISLAMABAD: Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) Chairman Altaf Saleem has said the new government is actively pursuing the reconstruction of quake-hit areas in NWFP and Azad Kashmir. Addressing a conference here on Saturday, he assured the donors that the development projects started in the affected areas will be implemented and completed within the prescribed time frame.

Giving a detailed account of the achievements made so far in the quake affected areas; Deputy Chairman Nadeem Ahmad said that more than Rs.57.50 had been disbursed among the affectees for their rehabilitation and reconstruction of houses. He said the housing programme will be completed by June this year. He said the authority had also distributed about five billion rupees to the vulnerable people under the livelihood cash grant programme.

Nadeem Ahmad said significant progress had also been made in the health, education, sanitation, water supply and road infrastructure projects. He said a programme had been envisaged to construct roads at a cost of twenty nine million rupees. Referring to the concerns shown by some organizations, he said the security situation in the affected areas was improving after the new government took charge.

Donors — various organizations — appreciated the reconstruction activities and said they will facilitate the new government and ERRA for the successful completion of the reconstruction phase.