"The exact location of new habitations to be developed would depend upon the findings of an extensive seismic survey of the area that would be undertaken with the assistance of Turkey," said one of the officials, who attended a recent meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Earthquake Relief, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation (CCERRR).
The official said, the United Nations was playing a proactive role in fund raising and the organisation's Secretary General Kufi Annan will visit Pakistan in November for which dates were being finalised.
The committee, however expressed displeasure over the response of international community in this regard saying " it is very critical to maintain momentum of fund raising campaign before the world starts losing interest," the official added.
Giving some other details of the meeting, the official said that the government has also asked the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to prepare damage assessment report and submit it by November 15 which would serve as database for future planning.
The official further said, the newly constituted Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) would comprise a chairman and four members, adding that the real work of this organisation would begin after receiving the report of both the donor agencies.
The organisation, however has started evaluating the possibility of construction of pre-fabricated houses for the affectees, construction of new cities of Muzaffarabad, Balakot, Bagh and Rawalakot, besides, 1000 wooden cottages would be constructed at Allai, NWFP out of a donation from lady donor of Sweden, priority would be given to the construction of schools and hospitals.
According to the official, the committee was not willing to give a more elaborate role to the ERRA, saying that the organisation should be limited to the provision/ development of infrastructure of area such as road, schools, colleges, hospitals/ dispensaries, government buildings and not get involved in the physical reconstruction of individual houses and left to the people to decide on the basis of their peculiar social, economic and cultural factors with the financial assistance from ERRA.
The official said, the government has also decided to approach those countries, which had not so far announced any donation for the earthquake victims through their envoys stationed at Islamabad or through Pakistan embassies abroad.
One of the committee members suggested that a large number of business houses were prepared to make houses for the poor people in the cluster of 100, 200 and 300 houses as the businessmen were also ready to sponsor the construction of schools, colleges and hospitals as well.
Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock, the official quoted as saying in the meeting that seed and fertiliser would be arranged, free of cost, for the earthquake affected areas of AJK and NWFP.
The committee also discussed the need for immediate disbursement of compensation/ financial assistance to the affected people and writing-off small loans, the official concluded.