Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar has said that our rough estimates suggest that rehabilitation work in the earthquake-hit areas would take five years to complete. She expressed these views while addressing a conference on 'Global corporate response to South Asian earthquake' here on Saturday.
She was of the view that it was vital to build industries in the quake-hit areas for its economic uplift. She warned that it was vital for donor agencies and media to remain focus on the relief activities, so that it could be taken to its logical conclusion. She pointed out that at present the rehabilitation work in the earthquake areas were not highlighted in the media.
According to her, a joint strategy has been formulated with the donor agencies for rehabilitation of the earthquake hit areas for which they have committed 6.5 billion dollars, of which 1 billion dollars has already been disbursed. They were expecting 2.8 billion dollars this year for housing, school and infrastructure.
Moreover, from the committed amount, 1.5 billion dollars was in the shape of grants of which 700 million dollars has been received. The remaining 4 billion dollars was in the shape of loans in which 1 billion dollars each has been committed by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB), of which 600 million dollars has been received and being spent on rehabilitation.
She said that the US government has also committed 200 million dollars for the rehabilitation programme.
"The government was doing well in the rehabilitation of the effected areas, which has been endorsed by the donor agencies; on and off the World Bank and ADB were evaluating our progress," she added.
John Wall, World Bank Country Head, said that the earthquake was devastating, which destroyed 400,000 houses. He further said that the World Bank was concentrating on infrastructure and housing.
Peter Fedon, ADB Country Head, said that the ADB has committed 1 billion dollars of which 400 million dollars have been disbursed, while more funds have been committed for housing, infrastructure and provision of clean drinking water.
He was of the view that the decision of rebuilding process should be taken at the grass root level and focus must be paid on creating jobs in the affected areas.
He said that it was also vital to involve the private sector in the rehabilitation process. He also suggested that the military and civil operations should assist the donor agencies in the rebuilding process.
Yusuf Samiullah, DFID Country Head, averred that in three years the DFID would release huge amount for the rehabilitation programme in the earthquake affected areas, while 160 million ponds would be given to check infant mortality in the areas.
He said that DFID has also committed 128 million pounds for emergency relief, of which 58 million pounds have been spent. "It was important to evaluate the spending on regular basis and made sure that transparency was upheld, as we are answerable to our taxpayers," he added.
Michael Dale, Head Operation of European Commission, told the participants that they had committed 50 million Euros for the relief efforts and they were focusing on education, housing and community development. It was important to focus on education, as it has a direct bearing on the future of children, he added.
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