ISLAMABAD: The Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) has successfully completed 645 projects in Azad Jammu Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and started stock-verification process of its assets for their redistribution among the implementing agencies.
According to an ERRA official, some 309 projects have been completed in AJK and 124 in KPK in the education sector, 32 in the health sector and 58 in power (buildings) in AJK, and 65 in AJK and 57 in KPK transport and communication sector.
Following the completion of the projects, the ERRA has started stock-checking of Earthquake Emergency Assistance Programme (EEAP) assets. The verification of the public assets is being done as part of its role as the executing agency on behalf of the Government of Pakistan and the donor agency - Asian Development Bank.
The government and the ADB will decide about the future deployment of these assets, in consultation with the governments of AJK and KPK.
The assets will be transferred to the executing and the implementing agencies and departments concerned, after ascertaining the quantity and physical verification and serviceability of the Earthquake Emergency Assistance Programme assets, including vehicles, computers and furniture items, to the satisfaction of the donors.
The transfer of the assets was being done to ensure transparency and fair distribution among the stakeholders after completing the codal formalities.
The ERRA official said the whole exercise was being undertaken as the assets purchased under different portfolios always remained public property and were subject to statutory audit and physical verification, and adoption of proper accounting procedures was a necessity.
He said such accounting and transparency efforts needed to be supported by the stakeholders as well as the media in the larger interest of the country and also to strengthen confidence of the donors in the Government of Pakistan.
He said the government entered into an agreement with the ADB to obtain a loan of US $154.227 million and a grant of US $ 80 million for projects in earthquake affected areas of AJK & KPK. It was later revised on completion upto US $ 378.80 million by ADB with counterpart funding by GoP to the tune of US $ 69.400 million, raising the total to US $ 448.300 million.
Following the closure of the ADB loan and the grant period on June 30, 2012, the ERRA assumed the responsibility to complete the projects not yet completed due to technical reasons out of GoP component in the larger interest of the local community.
He said the over-all impact of the project was positive, the economy has recovered and the quality of life was better than before.
The literacy rate in the affected areas has increased by 4pc and access to health services has also increased by 2.5pc, while the quality of roads has improved thus reducing the travel cost, fuel consumption and pollution caused by the traffic congestion.
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