ISLAMABAD, Feb 18: The newly appointed chairman of the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) Altaf Saleem has stressed the need for prioritizing targets in order to carry out relief and rehabilitation work in the earthquake-hit areas.

Mr Saleem, who assumed responsibilities of his office on Saturday, was full of praise for his predecessor Lt-Gen Mohammad Zubair. “We have to build the base provided by him,” he told Erra officials.

During the discourse the Erra chief provided a broad outline of activities and urged officials to devise a strategy that was simpler to implement.

Warning that time was of essence, he said it was important that all affected families were given shelters before next winter.

He called upon Erra officials to work enthusiastically and set out goals and targets and make all-out efforts to achieve the desired results in the shortest possible time.

Mr Saleem called for steps to ensure transparency, efficiency and cost effectiveness. He reminded officials that Erra had been mandated to serve the people through continuous and focused efforts.

He singled out the execution of the housing policy as the top-most agenda along with putting in place health and educational infrastructures.