ISLAMABAD, Oct 25: The government is working on a $10-12 billion reconstruction plan for the quake-stricken regions of Azad Kashmir and the NWFP. Official sources told Dawn on Tuesday that the government would arrange about 45 per cent funding (roughly $5 billion) for the plan which is expected to be submitted to the president and the prime minister on November 15 for approval.
The government expects that a donors’ conference being held in Geneva on Wednesday will contribute substantial grants to help Pakistan rebuild roads, bridges, schools and colleges, hospitals, government offices and villages in the quake-hit areas.
The sources said that pledges of about $1.2 billion had been made and the government was expecting $4 billion from international donors and bilateral creditors before the end of November to effectively execute the plan.
The remaining amount of about $8 billion, the sources said, was likely to come from private sector in the country and abroad. The government wants this funding to be used to improve housing and tourism facilities, including development of quality hotels, motels and apartments, in Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas.
The first damage assessment report being prepared jointly by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will be ready by the 5th of next month.
The sources said that former US president Bill Clinton, who had started raising funds and donations on the pattern of his campaign for tsunami victims, had expressed his readiness to introduce inexpensive technology for rapid house-building in Pakistan.
