Erra's Rural Housing Programme near completion

The partnership of Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) with Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) vouches for the fact that we all stand united against the challenges posed by the aftermath of earthquake shook on October 8, 2005.
This was stated by Chairman ERRA Saleem Altaf at the inaugural session of two-day Engineers' Conference organised by ERRA and PPAF, here on Monday. He said that ERRA's Rural Housing Programme, which once appeared to be a daunting task, is near its completion. The efficiency and effectiveness was maintained throughout the execution of the project.
"It is because of the Rural Housing Programme that ERRA's vision of 'Build Back Better' is being translated into a reality, as such an unbelievable task was being accomplished in the most difficult terrain by Pakistan Army and civil society organisations," he observed.
He said partnership between ERRA and PPAF was not limited to housing reconstruction in the earthquake-hit areas but both the organisations were also co-operating in the implementation of the disability project. Altaf said that PPAF was also reconstructing 16 health and education facilities equipped with modern facilities in the affected regions of NWFP and AJK.
He said that he was happy to note that ERRA and PPAF had jointly organised this event to reach common understanding on issues as well as strategize on how to facilitate beneficiaries who still do not fall under compliance category in connection with reconstruction of their houses.
He said two days moot would go a long way in reaching a common understanding on what retrofitting guidelines should be used as inspection standards. In his welcome address, Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director PPAF Kamal Hyat said that PPAF had been mandated by ERRA to reconstruct safe housing units in 34 worst affected union councils of the NWFP and AJK as per ERRA guidelines. He said that compliance on ERRA's construction guidelines in the quake-hit areas was a tremendous achievement.
He said that the Authority facilitated the PPAF, the safe construction in the quake areas was the result of amazing contribution by Pakistan army and civil society. He said the gigantic task of reconstruction would be completing by June in NWFP and AJK. The completion of the reconstruction project would be remembered as a hallmark in the post-disaster management in country's history.