Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance and Economic Affairs Dr Salman Shah said the reconstruction drive would lead to revival of economic activities and strengthening of food, agriculture and livestock sectors in the quake-affected areas.
He stated this in a meeting with 22-member Chinese delegation, which is visiting under the leadership of Chinese Ministry of Commerce's Assistant Minister Chen Jian here on Tuesday night.
Dr Salman Shah said the people in affected areas needed to start commercial activities in a way to resume their routine activities and take part in the reconstruction work.
He said: "We need to start entrepreneur type of activities in the quake-affected areas where small and medium business should get momentum to fulfil the needs of the people." There was also a need to start vocational training for the stakeholders to prepare the local population to take part in the reconstruction work of the affected areas, he added.
He said, "we have to set up temporary schools to start imparting education to the school going children."
Advisor to Prime Minister said, "We will be looking forward to start reconstruction work and setting up of important infrastructure enabling the people to carry on their routine life activities.
He said that assessment teams were sorting out details of losses through fieldwork and a draft report was to be submitted to the government by November 5.
Dr Salman Shah said, "we need approximately 1.5 to two billion dollars for providing food supply during next six to twelve months. An amount of four to five billion dollars may be required for carrying out reconstruction and rehabilitation work in the affected areas over the next five years."
He said the government was also organising an international donor's conference here on November 19 to review the overall situation and formulate a strategy to mitigate the sufferings of the people.
He said one of the biggest earthquakes had inflicted huge losses in 30,000 square KM area of the AJK and NWFP on October 8.
The quake has affected over three and a half million people and caused injuries to 75,000 people, while death toll has increased to over 57,000 and this figure may enhance to 80,000.
He said the joint assessment teams of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and the government institutions were making estimates of the losses and they would submit a draft report in this connection by November 5, to the government.
A large number of buildings including official and private had been damaged including school buildings, he said, adding the road infrastructure had been badly damaged causing hindrance to the relief activities in the affected areas.
Dr Salman Shah said the affected areas were mountainous where temperature was dropping day by day and severe winter was approaching very fast which might prove very harmful if proper heating arrangements were not made for the affected people. He said, "We are running against time to provide shelter and food to the needy people." Dr Salman Shah said Pakistan and China had very deep-rooted friendly relations, as China had always extended helping hand in the hour of need and crisis. The leader of the Chinese delegation Chen Jian expressed concern over the colossal loss of life and property due to October 8 devastating earthquake.
He said, "We fully share the sorrow and grief over the tragic happening, which inflicted heavy damage to the people of Pakistan. We have come here to know and examine the losses caused by the earthquake and sort out ways and means to help the affected people."
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