Three Modern Cities' Projects Developed Worth US$ 345 Million: ERRA

Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) has completed three modern cities including Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) state capital Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot and Bagh along with 120 other development projects at the cost of US $345 million.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Oct, 2018 ) :Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) has completed three modern cities including Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) state capital Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot and Bagh along with 120 other development projects at the cost of US $345 million.

Talking to APP, Acting Deputy Chairman ERRA, Brig Muhammad Latif, said the authority had undertaken the projects with the assistance of a Chinese loan of US $300 million while US $45 million were contributed by ERRA.

He said the projects after completion have improved the infrastructure, transport facilities and road accessibility to reach the far-flung areas of the state. The cities developed by ERRA are reckoned to be more urbanized and modernly designed cities across the country, which adds another feather to ERRA's cap.

He said that the development works including roads to Muzaffarabad and Neelum Valley and reconstruction of other destroyed edifices. "Tourists have now thronged to Neelum Valley to cherish with the heavenly tourist spots other than Murree, which was only due to the development done in the area," he remarked.

To a question, he said unfortunately ERRA could not carry out the reconstruction of New Balakot City project, which was sub judice in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar has constituted a commission to probe the failure of the project. Brig Latif said ERRA's stance on the issue was clear as no land and funds were provided to the authority to execute the project which led to its failure.

He said the projects that were left behind due to no availability of funds should be transferred to the respective governments of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). They are in a better position to privatize those projects or execute on public-private partnership, he added.

"It will take another 20 years to ERRA to accomplish those projects due to slow and limited amount of funds. However swift and adequate amount of funds provided would take only 2 years for the projects' completion," he maintained.

He said ERRA was International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certified organization and have the best practices applied in its departments like any other international organization.

Replying to a query, the acting deputy chairman said the former prime minister has principally approved the subsuming of ERRA into National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). He appreciated the decision and said that it was a happy moment for the authority to come under the ambit of NDMA which would strengthen its outreach.