Swiss Ambassador Markus Peter and Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority's (Erra) Deputy Chairman Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed on Monday inaugurated a school in Tehsil Balakot, District Mansehra.
The school is a part of a continued three-year support by the Swiss Government towards Erra's "Building Back Better" Strategy in response to the devastating earthquake of October 2005. The inauguration of the primary school Shohal Najaf Khan represents the completion of 10 schools reconstructed by the Swiss Humanitarian Aid.
The Swiss Humanitarian Aid is the humanitarian arm of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The schools in Mansehra and Battgram districts have been constructed with the collaboration of the University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, and local contractors.
According to Principal of primary school Shohal Najaf Khan, the number of students enrolled is more than 300 and likely to increase. The students are very happy shifting into the new school building after attending classes in makeshift tents for almost two years.
After the immediate relief phase following the October 2005 earthquake, the Swiss Humanitarian Aid started to focus on rehabilitation and reconstruction through its reconstruction and livelihood programme. The programme consists of three components: the reconstruction of school and basic health units, Erra' rural private housing reconstruction programme and livelihood activities in Mansehra and Battagram districts.
Apart from the humanitarian aid programme, the government of Switzerland, through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, maintains a longstanding cooperation with Pakistan supporting a number of development projects in the areas of improving governance and increasing income.