Reconstruction: Rs15b set aside for 700 schools

Red Crescent Society of UAE had recently signed a MoU with Pakistan to provide Rs15billion for schools’ construction.

MUZAFFARABAD: The State Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency (SERRA) lacks funds to construct 700 schools in the earthquake-hit areas of Muzaffarabad, Bagh and Rawalakot, leaving over 150,000 students in these areas deprived of access to basic education. This was stated by SERRA Secretary Rahim Khan while he was briefing military attaches 43 countries currently based in Islamabad. Khan said the international community has helped people from the earthquake-hit areas live normal lives under the slogan of “Build Back Better”. He added due to financial constraints, dozens of governance, education and health-related projects have not been completed. He said the Red Crescent Society of the United Arab Emirates had recently signed a MoU with Pakistan to provide Rs15billion for the schools’ construction. All projects should be completed by 2015, said Khan.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2013.