President General Pervez Musharraf has appealed for $800 million more donations to meet shortfall for the reconstruction phase in areas hit by the devastated earthquake last year. He was speaking at the first annual review conference arranged by the Earthquake Rehabilitation & Reconstruction Authority (Erra) here, on Thursday to show the donors achievements and the work on ground.
The President said as against earlier estimates of 400,000 houses, the government would now have to build 600,000 houses to accommodate some 3.5 million displaced persons which has increased the construction cost from $3.6 billion to $4.4 billion, creating a shortfall of $800 million.
He said 80 percent of reconstruction work in earthquake-hit areas would be completed by 2009; however, construction of 600,000 houses would be completed by December 2008 since it was the main issue for the sustenance of survivors.
He said: "Let's resolve to convert the challenge of reconstruction into an opportunity for raising living standards of the people." The President thanked the international community, the United Nations, innumerable NGOs, the entire Pakistani nation and the country's armed forces for joining hands to give everything to those who lost everything.
He said 95 percent of affected people have proper shelter and only 5 percent were living in tents whereas all education and health facilities have been restored in a short period and predictions of presenters of dooms day-like scenarios have proved wrong.
He said due to timely help no one died of hunger, epidemic or lack of facilities. He thanked the world community for their invaluable support to transport relief goods from all over the world and deliver it to the people living in the remotest areas as the entire communication network had broken down.
He gave full credit to Erra for disbursing Rs 60 billion among affected people in a transparent manner and assured donations are being utilised most judiciously on the reconstruction and rehabilitation work.
He said: "Our exemplary handling of the aftermath of the disaster has been termed a text book model and the international community has described it an example for the whole world." President Musharraf said we have now entered the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase, which is yet another challenge for the nation. He said devastated Balakot district was being relocated, besides Muzaffarabad and Rawlakot would be developed through proper town planning.
He stressed the need for raising rescue teams at the national level to meet disasters of such massive magnitude and proposed creation of National Disaster Management Authority and National Disaster Management Plan for this purpose.
Concluding his speech, the President said: "We cannot bring 73,000 people, who died but I assure survivors of a better life, better living standards and facilities. He said: "We will not fail the nation; we will not fail the people who are affected by the October 8 natural calamity."
He thanked the international donors for their generous donations and said "without the world support, Pakistan alone could not have handled the disaster". He also expressed gratitude to the people and expatriate Pakistanis for contributing Rs 1.2 billion in the President's Relief Fund. In his remarks, Erra chairman Altaf Saleem presented an overview of efforts made by Erra for the rehabilitation of earthquake victims.
Erra deputy chairman Lieutenant General Nadeem presented an overview 2005-06 titled "Rebuild, Revive with dignity and hope". Earlier, after entering the Convention Centre hall, the President went straight to children and women on wheel chairs, victims of the October 8 tragedy, who had been invited to attend the function and inquired after their health and assured the government would continue to look after and provide best of medical facilities to them.
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