April 26, 2006	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 27, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, April 25: Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) has started the first phase of reconstruction in the quake-hit areas by disbursing Rs29million among the survivors as the first tranche of housing compensation.

An amount of Rs75,000 each was distributed among 400 families. The amount is part of the $100million reconstruction and rehabilitation programme being funded by the World Bank (WB) and carried out by PPAF, said an official announcement issued here on Tuesday.

The programme is being carried out in 34 union councils of Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) and NWFP.

Deputy Chairman of the Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (Erra) Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed was chief guest at the cheque distribution ceremony held at Ghaniabad village of Union Council Thub in Bagh district.

The PPAF chief executive, Kamal Hayat and the National Rural Support Programme chief executive, Dr Rashid Bajwa, were also present on the occasion.

Gen Nadeem urged the quake survivors to construct their houses according to the designs introduced by Erra, as these were quake-resistant.

He said the disbursement of money was part of the PPAF’s reconstruction and rehabilitation programme. The programme aims at building of 24,000 low cost seismologically appropriate housing units, rehabilitation of 1,200 infrastructure schemes and training of 16,000 individuals.

“The programme ensures adherence to the Erra’s guidelines for disbursement and seismic, structural and environmental standards,” he added.

The PPAF has disbursed Rs12.6billion in more than 20,000 villages of 96 districts of the country through 60 partner organisations since 2000.