World Bank mission to visit quake-hit areas

The World Bank Earthquake Emergency Mission comprising Christoph Pusch and John Wall, Country Director in Pakistan meet Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs and Statistics Dr Salman Shah, Minister of State for Finance Omar Ayub and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Division Hina Rabbani Khar here on Tuesday.
The mission will visit the affected areas over the next two weeks and prepare an assessment report and estimated cost of rehabilitation of earthquake victims and reconstruction of infrastructure in AJK and NWFP.
Dr Salman Shah asked the mission to complete the assessment survey expeditiously and determine the quantum of damage to chalk out a suitable strategy for the rehabilitation of the victims.
Creation of a separate working group for each cluster was also discussed during the meeting. These included reconstruction of houses, infrastructure, schools, hospitals, roads, water sanitation, etc. The adviser suggested that strategy might include cash compensation for early rehabilitation.
The best practices and international experience of disaster management in case of Turkey, Sri Lanka and India also came under discussion.
Salman also said that Pakistan has set up a Cabinet Committee on Rehabilitation and an Earthquake Rehabilitation Authority, besides a Relief Commission.
He said that for every working group of a sectoral cluster a co-ordination officer has been attached by the EAD and the government was clear about the role of all agencies, including army, NGOs, federal and local governments.
He suggested to the mission to keep a close liaison with the provincial and local authorities for assessment survey so as to chalk out a suitable strategy in consultation with all the stakeholders.
He asked the World Bank to prepare a document with strategic options, affordable technology, material and design for the reconstruction of houses and other infrastructure. Salman said that the losses are huge and we need to pool up all the resources and programmes of various donor agencies for rapid community reconstruction.
During the meeting, both the sides agreed that the most important need of the hour was to provide temporary housing. Various options, including tented villages and prefabricated structures were considered for the transitory phase.