Islamabad,
25 July 2009: Pursuing the strategy to
involve international community in
reconstruction and rehabilitation
phase, ERRA today hosted the ceremony
of formal exchange of Note Verbale for
the launching of Phase-II of Italian
Emergency Programme in 2005 Earthquake
affected areas. Italian Ambassador H.E
Mr Vicenzo Prati and DG (Europe)
Foreign Affairs Mr. Aitzaz Ahmed
exchanged the documents. ERRA’s Chief
of Staff Brig Masuood Ahmad,
Additional Chief Secretary AJ&K
Muhammad Yousaf, and other high
ranking officials were also present at
the occasion.
After the successful completion of
Phase-I of the Italian Emergency
Programme, an MoU for which was signed
in November 2006, Phase-II of the
Programme is being launched. The cost
of the Phase-II of the project is €1
Million. It includes construction of a
Basic Health Unit and an office
building in Bagh city whereas
Government Girls Middle School Gul
Sher and Government Girls Primary
School Bilal Colony in Bagh will also
be built. There is also an allocation
to support the Socio Economic
Development of Union Council Kala
Moola of the Bagh District.
Previously, in Phase-I of the project,
construction of Government High School
Ghanool along with 7 Primary Schools
in Balakot, Govt Post Graduate
College, Bagh (Commerce Block), office
building and distribution of 2 sheep a
family to 233 families took place. The
cost of Phase-I of the project was
€1.50 million.
Representative of Italian Cooperation
Roberto Simeoni gave a presentation on
new social implication overview
project which is soon to be launched
after huge progress made in
Rehabilitation of quake affectees of
AJ&K.
Additional Chief Secretary AJ&K
Muhammad Yousaf while appreciating
ERRA’s efforts said that ERRA is
working hard for a noble cause and the
rapid progress made in last 3 years is
quite commendable.
ERRA’s Chief of Staff Brigadier
Masuood Ahmad while thanking
Government of Italy said that its
incessant help is reflective of the
confidence of the international
community in ERRA’s rebuilding phase.
He said that ERRA is making
substantial progress, and on average
it has been able to complete 186
projects every month since last June,
against 33 projects over the last
three years.
It is also worth mentioning that Prime
Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani in
11th ERRA Council Meeting yesterday
appreciated the fact that ERRA had
managed to save approximately Rs.25
billion through reappraisal of most of
the projects and reviewing their
budgets to decrease costs where
possible. Prime Minister also urged
ERRA to maintain its high standards
till objectives of reconstruction and
rehabilitation in the effected areas
are fully achieved. |