362 quake-damaged schools reconstructed, 177 being rehabilitated in Abbottabad: NA told

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Swati Monday informed the National Assembly that out of total 564 earthquake-damaged schools of Abbottabad, 362 had been reconstructed and 177 were in process of rehabilitation.

Whereas, reconstruction work on 25 schools could not be started due to paucity of funds, he said while responding on a Calling Attention notice moved by Ali Khan Jadoon, Prince Muhammad Nawaz Allai and Uzma Riaz regarding non-construction of 177 schools in district Abbottabad by Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) despite a lapse of 14 years.

The earthquake-2015 had badly damaged the schools.

He said the government was making all-out efforts to reconstruct the remaining schools at earliest for which sufficient amount had been allocated in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP 2019-20)

Ali Khan Jadoon said every year around 36,000 children were being affected due to non-construction of schools and requested Speaker Asad Qaiser to form a parliamentary committee on the issue.

Nawaz Allai also highlighted problems related to educational facilities in Battagram and asked the Speaker to constitute a committee comprising local MNAs to address the issue.

Uzma Riaz questioned utility of funds allocated for reconstruction of the schools in Abbottabad and asked for their audit.

Later, Speaker Asad Qaiser referred the issue to concerned Standing Committee for further deliberation and early reconstruction of the damaged schools.