March 23, 2007	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 3, 1428

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ABBOTTABAD, March 22: A special committee of the NWFP Assembly responsible for monitoring the relief and reconstruction work in earthquake-affected areas has expressed concern over the slow pace of work being carried out by the Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (Erra).

The committee, comprising MPAs Shezada Gustasab, Mian Nisar Gul, Qalandar Khan Lodhi and Mazhar Shah, visited Balakot, Battagram and Abbottabad and reviewed the ongoing projects.

They found that after the lapse of one and half years, the situation could not be improved despite tall claims by Erra and that the ground reality is totally different.

The DCO and other officials informed the committee that the PC-I of 195 schools was submitted to Erra but tenders were issued for only four schools. They said that a major part of work was being done by Erra and NGOs but due to shortage of staff they could not complete the projects in time.

The committee was informed that the projects evolution task was given to a Lahore-based organisation which had so far failed to approve the projects due to shortage of staff.

The committee was of the view that the reconstruction work should be awarded to provincial authorities so that these projects could be completed at the earliest.