The commendable efforts of Pakistan government, Pak Army, UN agencies, donors countries and NGOs for early rehabilitation and reconstruction of quake affected areas of Azad Jammu Kashmir have yielded positive results vis-à-vis for bringing the life back to normal in a short span of one year and nine months so far, official sources said.
The sources told APP here Saturday that with the generous financial assistance of the government of Pakistan, AJ&K government has already evolved Rs 126 billion phased-programme with mutual public-private partnership for the complete rehabilitation and resettlement of the quake-stricken population in next 3-year period in all the five affected districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Various donor countries including China alone is spending $300 million in reconstructing Muzaffarabad city. Besides Turkey has planned to rebuild Muzaffarabad district headquarters at a cost of $40 million. Similarly Saudi Arabia has declared to rebuild Bagh and Rawalakot district headquarters at a cost of $40 million, the sources revealed.
ERRA and SERRA are actively engaged to reach to the complete rehabilitation and resettlement of the quake-hit population, It may be added that the world donors community including Saudi Arabia, USA, China, Canada, Japan, Germany. UAE, Bosnia, Azerbaijan, Qatar, Malaysia, Kuwait, France, Belgium, Britain, Turkey, Cuba, Poland, Iran and many more have so far performed tremendous role to share the hectic efforts of Pakistan government for bringing the life back to normal as early as possible, Elaborating the ongoing wide-scale reconstruction and rehabilitation plan by the AJK government with the fullest financial assistance of the federal government besides different national and international NGOs in the affected areas, official sources said that besides the government, various national and international NGOs have announced to launch 392 projects of educational institutions, 51 health institutions including hospitals and 336 water supply schemes in all rural and urban areas of the five quake-affected districts of AJK.
Referring to the transitional housing, the sources pointed out that 6437 houses are being provided by ERRA for transitional housing in the affected zone.
Since the reconstruction has already been allowed from September 25 last year, the reconstruction process is getting momentum with the passage of time and the reconstruction has also been started in the rural areas in line with the stipulated design of quake-resistant building set by ERRA.
Eleven earthquake-resistant designs of buildings, both for residential and commercial purposes have already been approved by Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority. Entire phased reconstruction and rehabilitation program involve the estimated investment/expenditures of Rs 126 billion approximately both by the public and private sector. During entire reconstruction and rehabilitation process, millions of skilled and unskilled jobs emerge and the model cities and towns with latest amenities of life to replace the existing devastated villages, towns and cities in all the five quake-affected AJK districts.
Latest capacity buildings of the government departments and other related organisations will also be constructed in line with the stipulated design approved by ERRA.