Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs and Statistics Dr Salman Shah held a meeting with local heads of donor agencies. Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and senior officials from Planning and Economic Affairs Division also attended the meeting.
The meeting discussed various options and modalities to begin the second phase of reconstruction and rehabilitation of earthquake victims in AJK and NWFP.
The need to create clusters for different sectors including housing, education, health, etc, and setting up of a Relief and Rehabilitation Authority was discussed.
It was decided a comprehensive website need to be created, which will depict day-to-day data and progress of sectoral clusters. It was also felt victims' relocation to some other place would be difficult because of their cultural, tradition, and emotional attachment with lost houses.
The adviser asked donor agencies that suitable strategy needs to be chalked out quickly to proceed further to rehabilitate the victims. He further said co-ordination with provincial and local authorities was of paramount importance for the need assessment as well as to rehabilitate victims.
The adviser asked the economic affairs division to nominate officers from line institution and planning division for cluster groups.
Strategies and options that will be developed by experts working group for each cluster will be placed before the cabinet committee on recover and reconstruction for decisions and implementation through ministries, provincial and local governments.
The reconstruction authorised would ensure effective and prompt implementation. It was also decided that the economic affairs division would continue to be the focal agency to co-ordinate with donor agencies.-PR