MANSEHRA, Nov 21: Seven schools rebuilt by the Italian government were handed over to the district education department in Balakot tehsil. According to a press release issued here on Wednesday by the District Reconstruction Unit (DRU), Mansehra, the Italian government had undertaken to reconstruct schools in snow-bound areas of Kagal, Shawal Mazullah, Kot Balla, Patiga and Zameeri under its Earthquake Assistance Programme.

Four of the seven rebuilt institutions are girls’ schools where classes were being conducted in tents.

A ceremony was held in the Government Primary School Zameeri in the Thalata union council to hand over the keys to education department officials, which was attended by chief Italian government delegate for its assistance programme Mr Roberto, the Italian NGO Iscos’ chief executive Mr Antonio, tehsil nazim Junaid Qasim and a large number of earthquake survivors.

Mr. Roberto assured of more help and said that the schools were a gift of the Italian people for the earthquake survivors.

“The world has become a global city and nobody can tolerate the pain of his other brother in such circumstances,” he said.

Mr. Roberto said that the Italian government would reconstruct the damaged infrastructure in Ghanool union council, one of the worst quake-hit areas, and rebuild the government high school, basic health unit and union council offices.

Mr Antonio, chief executive of Iscos, which rebuilt the schools, said that these school building were completely earthquake-proof.

The district Khatib praised the role of the international community rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts and said: “We pay the rich tribute to the international community and national and international NGOs for their rapid and appropriate help.”