MUZAFFARABAD, April 27: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has opened an extended mission office in the AJK capital to coordinate its assistance work in the earthquake-hit areas of Pakistan.

The move comes as the bank gears up to approve the disbursement of $400 million in new funds for projects that will address the needs of the quake-affected area in a flexible manner, according to a statement issued by the ADB.

The extended mission office, set up in a prefabricated structure along the New Civil Secretariat and Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly buildings, was inaugurated on Wednesday by ADB vice-president (operations) Liqun Jin who was accompanied by senior bank officials.

AJK chief secretary Javed Majid also attended the ceremony, marked by the unveiling of plaque and hoisting of flags of Pakistan, AJK and the ADB.

The ADB added that it had already disbursed $183.8 million, with $72 million being used for rebuilding schools and other education projects, $69.3 million for reconstructing roads and other transport projects, $27.5 million for the health sector and $14.9 million for the power sector.

Until now, the ADB’s relief work has been coordinated from its resident mission in Islamabad and the establishment of the new extended mission office is the first of its kind for bank.