Islamabad: 18th May, 2010: Bidding farewell to the outgoing Chief Representative of JICA, Mr Otake Tomoharu, and welcoming Mr. Nishikata Takatoshi as new Chief Representative of JICA, Chairman ERRA, Altaf Muhammad Saleem appreciated highly, the efforts of the Government of Japan in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the earthquake affected areas. He said that the commitment of the Government and people of Japan will always be remembered and that the JICA-ERRA partnership is an outstanding example of international partners’ will to stand by Pakistan in her time of need.

Welcoming the newly appointed Chief Representative of JICA, Mr. Nishikata Takatoshi, Chairman ERRA, Altaf Muhammad Saleem expressed hope that mutual cooperation between ERRA and JICA will further be extended for the timely completion of reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in the earthquake affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa and AJ&K. Chief Program Officer, JICA, Mehmood A Jillani was also present on the occasion.
Outgoing Chief Representative of JICA, Mr. Otake Tomoharu briefed Chairman ERRA about the progress of those reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in which JICA has successfully intervened, adding that the remaining work will be completed on time. He also praised ERRA for bringing positive changes, in a short span of time, in the lives of earthquake affectees in Khyber Pakhtunkwah and AJ&K; adding, that ERRA’s effective policies is what made this undertaking possible.
JICA’s intervention in the education and health sectors and in the reconstruction of roads and bridges has played a very vital role in uplifting the lives of the earthquake affectees. With JICA as a development partner, 100 education facilities have become fully functional. In the health sector, 16 facilities have been completed including Basic Health Units (BHUs) and a prefabricated operation theatre in District Headquarters (DHQs) Battagram, while work on 5 facilities is under progress. Additionally, five bridges have been reconstructed in Battagram and on the Muzaffarabad-Chakothi road, with the support of JICA. JICA has also helped design the Earthquake Memorial Bridge Nalochi, Muzaffarabad and the West Bank Bypass.