British government will provide £35 million budgetary support to Pakistan for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the earthquake affected districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and NWFP.
An agreement to this effect was signed by the Country Director of Department for International Development (DFID) of Britain in Pakistan Dr Yousaf Samiullah and Secretary Economic Affairs Division Muhammad Akram Malik on Monday.
Speaking on the occasion, the Country Director DFID Dr Yousaf Samiullah said the first tranche of 17.5 million pounds is being released and the second of equal amount will be given later this year.
It is part of United Kingdom's support to be used to fund the reconstruction and rehabilitation activities in housing, health and education sectors, he added.
He said after the October 2005 earthquake, UK government made a generous contribution of 58 million pounds to help in the humanitarian relief efforts of Pakistan.
Besides, UK government also pledged 70 million pounds for long-term reconstruction, which brings the UK's total support for earthquake relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation in Pakistan to 128 million pounds.
He said UK has also provided technical assistance for the reconstruction of affected areas. He said the assistance being given to Pakistan is the result of Britain's trust in Pakistan government for its endeavour to develop the quake-hit areas.
Secretary Economic Affairs Division M Akram Malik said the financial grant will be utilised for bringing sustained improvements in the quality of peoples lives in the earthquake affected areas, particularly the poor and vulnerable, to reconstruct their houses and to rehabilitate them.
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