Muzaffarabad, June 7: The British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Adman Thomson today said Pakistan Administered Kashmir could be developed by involving communities in the development process.
 “Due to small population, PaK could be transformed into more developed region compare to Pakistan and a strategy is required for a better sustainable functioning of the institutions built under Reconstruction and Rehabilitation programme” he said in response to the briefing on Reconstruction and Rehabilitation projects organized by State Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (SERRA).
 He said the peoples’ economic condition in quake affected areas had improved with the investment of more than Rs.150 billions in terms of rescue, relief and rebuilding activities and now they had much better houses, educational institutions and hospitals.
 The British High commissioner who was on his maiden visit to PaK said SERRA should plan to involve public to contribute for a sustainable functioning and maintenance of facilities build under the Reconstruction programme.
 He asked Agency to propose PaK government a strategy for the future development needs and sustaining of newly constructed educational, health, governance, livelihood, social welfare and women development projects.
 Earlier briefing on the programme, SERRA Secretary Dr. Syed Asif Hussain said rural housing had been completed with the payment of last instalment to 98 percent beneficiaries while the rest would be paid in next four week.
 He said Rs 48.93 billions had been paid to 3,00,000 quake survivors in all the affected districts for the building of houses in accordance with SERRA specifications.
 Underlining the UK’s role in rescue, relief operation and in reconstruction he said Department for International Development provided 41 steel bridges for the restoration of communication and 300 prefabricated shelters for the government offices.
 He said all the reconstruction projects would be completed by December, 2011.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 7 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 7 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 8 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST