The meeting reviewed the progress of compilation of data on damage assessment and needs for rehabilitation of earthquake victims in AJK and NWFP.
The meeting was informed that the first draft of damage assessment report jointly prepared by the WB, ADB and the UN will be ready by November 5 and it would be finalised by November 12 in consultation with the Government of Pakistan and all the stakeholders.
The report will comprise two volumes; the first volume will include strategies and options to complete the relief and recovery phase in the first 12 months. The second part relating to reconstruction of houses and infrastructure will be implemented in 48-60 months.
The meeting also reviewed the progress of data collection for various clusters in different sectors, including health, water, sanitation, housing, roads and education, etc. The meeting was informed that according to rough estimates the number of victims that require food, shelter and medical facilities is much greater than the initial assessment.
Lieutenant General Mohammad Zubair said that within two weeks all the roads, big and small in AJK and NWFP would be opened for four-wheelers and in that way we would be able to reduce the cost of airlifting of foods and other items to various places.
Technical personnel of Pakistan Army will be deputed with each cluster to help in speeding up the process of rehabilitation and reconstruction. He also suggested provision of soft loans to the shopkeepers of essential commodities so that economic activities could be generated in the area.
He also stressed upon the need for cleanliness and hygiene to avoid spread of epidemic diseases. WB Country Director John Wall informed that the damage assessment report would be placed on the WB website and would be accessible to all.
Dr Salman Shah suggested that the damage assessment report should include an indication of timeframe for each activity, requirement of funds for recovery and reconstruction phase in addition to devising an in-built monitoring system.
The next meeting will be held on Monday November 7 in the Finance Ministry.-PR