ISLAMABAD, Feb 13: The United States Navy Construction Battalion Four (NMCB 4) detachment to Pakistan Military Engineers on Monday turned over $2.5 million worth of construction equipment to the latter as relief efforts transition to reconstruction.

The equipment included three D-7 bulldozers, one 15-ton dump truck, nine 20-ton dump trucks, seven 100-kilowatt generators and four generator skids.

Officer in charge NMCB 4 Detachment Pakistan Navy Lt Michael W. Trust, in a statement, said this equipment was vital to the continuing mission of rebuilding Pakistan and would help the authorities in long-term reconstruction of the earthquake affected regions.

He said after arriving in Pakistan in October, the SEABEES of NMCB 4 and NMCB 74 completed 12 demolition projects, cleared 50,000 cubic yards of debris, enough to cover almost 800 cricket pitches. The SEABEES also built 70 temporary shelters and 15 SEAHUTS-transitional shelters now being used as schools. These projects were primarily accomplished in Miani Biani, Kardala and Muzaffarabad.

“The SEABEES of NMCB 4 and NMCB 74 absolutely lived their ‘Can Do’ motto,” said Rear Admiral Michael LeFever, Commander of US Disaster Assistance Centre Pakistan. They dedicated themselves to helping their Pakistani friends after the devastating earthquake, he added.