USAID: $25m pledged for reconstructing schools in the province

Govt to install radar system to predict adverse weather conditions.

PESHAWAR: While briefing journalists on his department’s performance over the last five years, Rashid Ahmed, secretary for the Department of Relief and Rehabilitation, said the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has pledged $25 million for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of affected educational institutes in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

He added the department also plans to install a radar system in Chitral in order to predict adverse weather conditions and minimise collateral damage caused by ‘unprecedented’ floods.

Ahmed further added that the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has so far reconstructed more than 100 schools in Swat and other parts of Malakand. USAID and Saudi Arabia have also pledged $2.5 million each for the development of K-P’s militancy-affected areas. More so, the aid programme has donated $85 million to the K-P Reconstruction programme which has helped reconstruct more than 122 schools.

“A sum of R10.3 billion was distributed by the PDMA as a cash grant among 392,724 families affected by the military operation in 2009,” said Ahmad, adding that Rs15.75 million was distributed as compensation for families affected by the 2010 floods.

The PDMA has initiated a Housing Uniform Assistance Subsidy Project (HUAP) for militancy-affected people in Malakand with $65 million in financial assistance from USAID. A peace and development project funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has also been completed.



“A sum of Rs2 billion has been provided under the Chief Minister’s Package to reconstruct Excelsior College, Sangota School and irrigation systems in Swat,” the secretary further said.

He added that the UAE Pakistan Assistance Programme had been initiated in collaboration with the Pakistan Army. The programme will provide $60 million for the development of various technical institutions and medical facilities. A five-year performance report of the department was also presented during the conference.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2013.