Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has expressed confidence that despite challenges Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (Erra) would be able to meet the targets for early completion of rehabilitation and reconstruction work.
The Prime Minister expressed these views during his meeting with the Deputy Chairman Erra, Lieutenant General Akram Sajjad at the Prime Minister House on Monday during which he presented annual progress report of Erra for the year 2007.
He said to speed up reconstruction and rehabilitation work in the quake affected areas, he had given a commitment to the affectees during his visit to hold monthly meeting of Erra Council to personally review the progress. He said the challenges arising out of socio-economic factors would be overcome with appropriate measures and commitment.
The Prime Minister desired that Mega Projects of Muzaffarabad should be expedited to benefit the people. He also asked the Deputy Chairman Erra to specifically attend to the grievances of the people of Balakot as the city was totally destroyed and the people need to be rehabilitated at the earliest.
The Prime Minister said that it has been observed that some of government sponsored educational projects of Erra were running behind schedule which require immediate attention to expedite the work and assured government's support in this regard.
Gilani was pleased to lift the ban on employment for projects related managerial and technical posts of Erra to facilitate the speed of reconstruction work. The Prime Minister chaired a meeting of Erra Council on April 26 and visited the quake affected areas to see for himself the reconstruction and rehabilitation work showing his special concern for the victims who had undergone great sufferings because of the catastrophic earthquake.
The Prime Minister said that the sufferings of the quake victims could not be forgotten and the government would leave no stone unturned to provide them better facilities than before. He said that government would extend all possible support to create better environment for the people to live a better life.
Appreciating the work done by Erra in confronting the task of reconstruction and rehabilitation in the quake affected areas of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K) and NWFP, he said that although reconstruction work was a huge challenge already being handled effectively. The resilience and commitment of the people undoubtedly played a supporting role, PM added.
Gilani said that spirit of nationalism and unity displayed by the people of all the provinces at the time of earthquake was a mark of solidarity and brotherhood. He said the contribution made by the people of Pakistan was unparalleled, nevertheless the assistance extended by the entire world was equally significant to cope with this un-imaginable task.
Prime Minister said beside the fact that the earthquake resulted in a great loss to the people; the reconstruction process has generated new opportunities of self-reliance and self-confidence for the people. He said that affiliation of more than half a million people with the reconstruction business has ushered in a new era of social and economic activities in the area. The Deputy Chairman Erra apprised the Prime Minister of the progress on a number of projects in various sectors in the affected areas of AJ&K and NWFP.
The Prime Minister was informed that all international agencies have reposed their full confidence in Erra for the excellent execution of reconstruction and rehabilitation work in the earthquake affected areas. He also informed that as per Prime Minister's directive the elected representatives of the affected areas were taken on board to facilitate the process of early completion of the reconstruction work.
This, he said, would ensure their participation as well as ownership of the facilities being developed. He also informed the Prime Minister about some of the difficulties currently being faced by Erra in completing their assigned task due to increase in the prices of building material as well as shortage of skilled labour.