PDMA rebuilds three schools

Assigned to reconstruct 107 schools in flood-hit areas

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has completed reconstruction work of three flood damaged schools in Upper Dir and Nowshera districts.

In May 2016 PDMA was assigned to reconstruct 107 schools in flood affected areas including Upper Dir, Swat, Nowshera, Charsadda and D.I.Khan.

However, with financial support of USAID Rs33 million, PDMA completed construction works on three schools and will hand it over it to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Elementary and Secondary Education Department.

According to PDMA documents 50 per cent constructions work has been completed on 54 out of 107 schools whereas 22 are in tendering process while 28 are in approval process from respective forums.

It showed that the new school has six classrooms with examination hall, administration block, five washrooms for students and one for teachers. The developmental works project cost is Rs33 million and work is completed in stipulated time within one year.

The completed schools are Government High School Sadbar Kali in Upper Dir, Government Primary School Pashtungari and Government Primary School Kandi Taza Din Kali Nowshera.

According to Pakistan Floods 2010 Damages and Needs Assessment report around 280 schools, 13 colleges and 17 vocational institutes were totally destroyed in different parts of the province.

Talking to The Express Tribune PDMA Media Coordinator Taimur Ali  confirmed that  construction work had been completed in  three schools and one of them handed over to the provincial government while the other two would be handed over very soon.

He said that the construction work is in progress while the remaining schools would be complete in one year. Ali said that the new schools have well design and all facilities have available in these schools for students as well as for teachers.

Ali informed that PDMA  also has completed reconstructed work on 113 militancy hit schools in different parts of the province while the education activities has been restored in these schools.

He said that beside these schools 13 basic healths units built in which health facilities will be provided at their door steps.

It is pertinent to mention here that Malakand Division was one of the most affected areas during Taliban insurgency and floods.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2017.