The World Bank has expressed satisfaction over Pakistan's government efforts to rebuild areas in the north ruined by last year's earthquake that killed an estimated 75 thousands people. In a statement issued here on Sunday, the bank termed the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts amazing.
The statement was issued at the conclusion of a visit to earthquake devastated areas by Graeme Wheeler, the managing director and Praful Patel, the vice president South Asia of the World Bank.
"The progress made in just one year is truly impressive given the scale of this terrible tragedy," Graeme Wheeler said. Praful Patel, who had visited twice before, said, "The change since June is amazing. I've flown over the same areas and visited many communities in the past. This time one had to look hard to find a tent. Shiny roofs were everywhere."
They visited a girls' school that was fully operational, built by the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF). A boys' school was under construction right across the road.
ERRA assured the visitors that 100 percent of the school and health capacity that existed before the October 8, 2005 earthquake were up and running in both permanent and temporary shelter, with many providing a much higher quality of services than before being reconstructed.
The visitors met the Prime Minister, the Finance Adviser and the Governor of State Bank along with many senior officials of the Government of Pakistan.
They discussed economic issues particularly the need to keep an eye on external imbalances, the progress on the National Trade Corridor and power and water management challenges.
They also visited Lahore, where they met the Chief Minister, the Chief Secretary, the Chairman, Planning and Development Board Punjab and others and discussed the urban development programme of Punjab.