2005 quake-hit areas: Erra completes 50 mega projects sponsored by Saudi govt

The Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) has completed 50 mega projects, sponsored by the Saudi government, in October 8, 2005 earthquake hit-areas of Azad Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhawa.
This was stated by ERRA Acting Deputy Chairman Brigadier Abu Bakr Bajwa while briefing Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Jassim M Khaldi here Wednesday. Saudi Ambassador reiterated Saudi government's resolve to continue strong support for reconstruction of projects in earthquake-hit areas of Azad Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhawa.
While eulogising the Saudi Arabia government and its people's role in their quick response for saving lives, ERRA Deputy Chairman said Saudi government immediately provided 8,000 shelter/prefab houses for people of affected areas of AJK and KP. He said since then Saudi Arabia is an active development partner in reconstruction and rehabilitation of the earthquake affected areas.
He said Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have a long association and friendship, adding the relation is time-tested and is evident from the support of Saudi Arabia in funding of projects in earthquake affected areas, especially in Azad Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhawa.
He said that it was due to international development partners and resolve of the Government of Pakistan that 600,000 houses were reconstructed making ERRA as the only organisation which successfully completed its Flagship Program above that over 10,000 projects in other sectors that were well recognised by the world community and awarded UN SASAKAWA Award.
According to an overall estimate, he said the Authority has a completion rate of 80 to 100 projects per month, and all buildings and houses reconstructed by the ERRA sustained the after October 2005 earthquake. He said quality construction speaks volume while conforming to the standards of reconstruction that are followed by the ERRA and its partners.
About the ERRA's early Recovery Model and the Rural Housing Strategy, he recommended that it should be followed as an example internationally. Paying high tributes to Saudi Public Assistance for Pakistan Earthquake Victims (SPAPEV), which completed all projects pledged by the Government of Saudi Arabia, he said it indicates sign of love for the people of Pakistan. He assured that King Abdullah Mosque in Muzaffarabad will be completed by December 2016.
Jassim Bin Al-Khalid appreciating the efforts of the ERRA said that Pakistan remains a close brotherly country and Saudi Arabia will always stand by Pakistan in testing times.
He said recently Saudi Arabia has signed five grants and one loan agreement with Pakistan and assured of future support in reconstruction of projects in earthquake-hit areas, adding that Saudi Arabia will always consider Pakistan as its priorities.