PRESS RELEASES

Deputy Chairman visits NWFP - July 16,2009

Islamabad, 16 July 2009: Reconstruction of further 300 schools will be completed by the end of 2009 in the earthquake affected area of NWFP. Construction work at Ayub Medical Complex Abbotabad and DHQ Mansehra will start soon while reconstruction of DHQ Battagram as well as New Balakot city project phase 1 will be completed by September 2009. Deputy Chairman ERRA Lt General Sajjad Akram said this at the inauguration ceremony of Government High School Jhankra district Abbottabad. The estimated cost of this school is 36.8 Million which is reconstructed at an approximate covered area of 17 kanals. He said that 5108 reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in the earthquake affected areas will be completed soon. The Deputy Chairman said that 45% construction work on New Balakot City Project Phase- 1 has been completed and a modern City in the shape of New Balakot will be completed in 2013. Answering to media persons, the Deputy Chairman said that ERRA has expedited construction work during last 1 year and 2500 projects including 300 schools will be completed till December 2009. He said uncertain weather conditions are creating hurdles in the reconstruction work. He further said that ERRA has introduced modern technologies in construction and due to these technologies ERRA would complete its planned projects at a faster pace. Answering to a question about news story relating to alleged embezzlement in ERRA’s Housing Program, he said that the system for release of housing subsidy is fair and transparent and there is no chance of embezzlement in this process. He said all earthquake affected historical buildings would be preserved in their original form and ERRA would provide all the financial support to carry out the planned activity. The Deputy Chairman also visited under construction admin block and residential buildings of Abbotabad police line, which will be completed at an estimated cost of Rs.69.75 and Rs.71.824 million, respectively. The Deputy Chairman also held a meeting with the public representatives of the earthquake affected areas including MNAs Sardar Shahjahan Yousaf, and provincial Minister Habib-ur-Rehman Tanooli, MPAs Abdul satar Khan, Taeema Nisar , Anayatullah Khan, Molvi Obaidullah Khan, Barister Javed Abbasi, PERRA headquarter. During the meeting the public representatives apprised the Deputy Chairman about problems in their constituencies. Deputy Chaiman directed the concerned authorities to resolve the problems immediately. He further said that public representatives are fully supporting ERRA’s efforts in all the reconstruction and rehabilitation projects.