Chairman, Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (Erra) Altaf Saleem has expressed hope that co-operation between Erra and Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA) will be further extended for timely completion of the on-going reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in the earthquake affected areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and AJK.
"Japanese Government's support for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of earthquake affected areas is greatly valued by Government and people of Pakistan," Altaf Saleem said in a function organised by Erra to bid farewell to the out-going Chief Representative of JICA, Otake Tomoharu, and to welcome Nishikata Takatoshi, new Chief Representative of JICA.
Altaf Saleem highly appreciated the efforts of Government of Japan in rehabilitation and reconstruction of earthquake affected areas, saying that the commitment of Government and people of Japan will be remembered in days to come. JICA and Erra partnership is an example of international partners' will to stand by Pakistan in time of need, he added.
The out-going Chief Representative of JICA, Otake Tomoharu briefed Chairman Erra about the progress of reconstruction and rehabilitation projects. He said that the remaining work will be completed on time. He praised Erra for bringing positive changes in the lives of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and AJK earthquake's affectees in a short span of time and said it was possible only due to effective policies adopted by Erra.
JICA's active co-operation in education, health, reconstruction of roads and bridges is of great importance, as 100 education facilities have become fully functional. He said that in health sector, 16 facilities have been completed, including Basic Health Units (BHUs) and a prefabricated operation theatre in District Headquarters (DHQs) Batgram while work on five facilities is under progress.
In addition, five bridges have been reconstructed on Batgram and Muzaffarabad-Chakothi road with the support of JICA together with the designing of Earthquake Memorial Bridge Nalochi, Muzaffarabad and West Bank Bypass, he added.