QUETTA: The Planning Commission of Pakistan has approved an allocation of Rs4 billion for the reconstruction of 16,000 houses in the earthquake-hit areas of Balochistan’s Awaran district.

Strong earthquakes struck the entire district twice — on Sept 24 and 28 last year — leaving thousands of people homeless, entire settlements destroyed and over 500 people dead and 700 injured.

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP), which met on Friday, also approved the project. The provincial government will launch the reconstruction on May 1.

“A project director has been appointed by the provincial government to implement the plan,” Balochistan Chief Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad told Dawn.

According to the plan, 80 per cent of the funds will be spent on the construction of housing units and 20pc on providing solar energy.

According to sources, the government will provide Rs220,000 each to those whose houses collapsed in the earthquake. “The affected families will rebuild their houses with the funds provided by the federal government in accordance with their own designs and wishes,” the chief secretary said, adding that Project Director Aziz Jamali would supervise the work.

He said the owners would be provided funds for the portions of their homes completed.

“Solar energy panels will be installed on the newly-built houses because the entire district is not linked with the national grid.”

He said the provincial government would monitor the reconstruction and ensure quality.

The project is expected to create job opportunities for thousands of local labourers, besides boosting the business of construction material.