ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday approved construction of 1,000 schools in the earthquakehit area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the government, these schools will cater to the need of 200,000 shelter-less children, who are pursuing education without proper school buildings. These schools were destroyed in the 2005 earthquake that hit various parts of the country.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) to ensure completion of 1,000 schools - a project of Rs8 billion - in one year.

“The prime minister has approved construction of 1,000 schools for 200,000 shelter-less children in the districts of Shangla, Kohistan, Battagram, Abbottabad, Mansehra and other earthquake-affected areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir,” says a press note issued by the Prime Minister’s Offi ce.

Quoting the prime minister, the press note said: “We will not only make a Roshan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but also a Roshan Pakistan. Our focus is on development of Pakistan, and the nation will see a better and prosperous Pakistan by the year 2018.”

Published in Dawn December 3rd , 2014