International Organisation for Migrants (IOM) on Tuesday signed agreements with local contractors to assist the government with 13 projects to rehabilitate and reconstruct infrastructure in Malakand Division last year.
The signing, which was jointly organised by the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) government and IOM in Peshawar, is part of the multi- donor funded Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan (PHRP) 2009 and followed consultations between the NWFP government, local communities and IOM to identify infrastructure rehabilitation and rebuilding needs in Swat, Buner, Dir and Malakand districts.
"We are working with the government at federal and provincial level to rehabilitate and rebuild infrastructure to help ensure sustainability for displaced families returning to their places of origin," said Hassan Abdel Moneim Mostafa, IOM Regional Representative for West and Central Asia.
The infrastructure rebuilding activities will include provision of a drinking water supply scheme in Daggar village in Buner and rehabilitation of drinking water supply scheme in Shanai village. Surface treatment of a road from Baj-Katta village to Mandao Maira village in the same district as well as construction of link road from Mulla Sar village to Kadha Khail village and completion of drinking water supply schemes for the villages of Assu Dara and Jawar also include in projects.
In Lower and Upper Dir, the projects include reconstruction of a damaged Government Girls High School and Government Technical College in Wari Union Council, building a flood protection wall at Baroon village, access to drinking water for Nawagai Payeen village and rebuilding a damaged Government Girls Middle School in Chukyatan Union Council.
For Swat, the projects include construction of a concrete road and drains at Khonachum and Baligram villages, rehabilitation of three water supply schemes in Mohallah Mohammad Rahman, Rang Mohallah and Saidu Sharif villages and building of a concrete road and drains in the Barkaly and City Mill areas. In Malakand, the projects include rehabilitation, improvement and extension of a drinking water supply scheme in Aladand village.
Each project will have an oversight committee comprising IOM field staff, representatives of the district administration and influential members of the community to address issues relating to security during implementation and ensure community ownership. Besides, generating jobs and income for local people, the projects will help to restore pre-conflict standards of living and reduce dependency on relief aid.
According to the Malakand Development Strategy of the Provincial Relief, Rehabilitation and Settlement Authority (PaRRSA), economic growth and infrastructure developments are crucial to the recovery, stabilisation and development of the conflict-affected areas.
"The NWFP government highly appreciates IOM's continued support for the needs of the internally displaced persons and for post-conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in these areas," says PaRRSA Director General Shakil Qadir Khan. The project has also been developed to meet needs identified in the government's Malakand Development Strategy, the Conflict Early Recovery Initial Needs Assessment conducted by the humanitarian community, and the Damage and Needs Assessment.
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