RAWALPINDI, May 5: The Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) on Friday invited local traders, transporters and manufacturers to supply construction materials to quake-hit areas.

The Erra officials including the authority’s director- general (M&E) Brig Sher Afghan Niazi, Col Tariq Zaman and Director AJK area Lt Col Shams were briefing the members of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) about reconstruction and sought their suggestions.

Brig Niazi said that the governments of NWFP and AJK would provide security and lands (ware houses) to the traders free of cost, but they would have to supply building materials on subsidised rates.

The local traders were asked to supply cement, sand, crushed stones, steel, electric goods, sanitary instruments, wood and iron sheets, etc., for the reconstruction of quake-ravaged areas.

He said that the government would facilitate the traders in this regard but made it clear that quality of materials would not be compromised.

Brig Niazi said that Erra would meet cement manufacturers, transporters and other local traders in order to ensure material supply to quake-hit areas.

Houses: He said that so far the government had built 600,000 (0.6 million) houses sizing 400 square feet each for quake survivors adding that only 10,5000 homes had been made on foreign donations while the rest were constructed by the government itself.

The Erra official said that the new town planning of Muzaffarabad would be completed in the next three months adding that work was slow but steady.

“We admit our passiveness but engineering-based works need strategy and planning for which time is required,” he observed.

Brig Niazi said that supply and demand for goods were not matching that was why the work was going slowly adding that Erra was committed to overcoming the situation through the involvement of local businessmen in this respect.

“Transportation problem is another factor for the slow pace and we want to solve the problem through joint venture with civilian which would make a major breakthrough.”

The RCCI President Jalil Malik and other members ensured their full support and suggestions saying that the involvement of local traders in reconstruction phase was welcome decision of Erra.