ISLAMABAD, Oct 22: World Bank managing director Graeme Wheeler and Vice-President for South Asia Praful Patel have praised the progress made in school and housing reconstruction and development of water supply to villages in the areas hit by last year’s earthquake.

During their visit to the country from Oct 19 to 22, World Bank officials went to the affected areas in Azad Kashmir and the NWFP, said a press release issued here on Sunday.

“The progress made in just one year is truly impressive given the scale of this terrible tragedy,” Mr Wheeler said during the visit.

“The government under the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority’s management has done a remarkable job and nearly all of the 3.5 million people whose lives were turned upside down by the quake will face the winter in temporary or permanent shelter rather than in heated tents,” he said.

Erra estimated that less than one per cent of the people would be occupying tents and permanent homes were being completed in increasing numbers before the winter started, said the release.

“The change since June is amazing. I have flown over the same areas and visited many communities in the past. This time one has to look hard to find a tent. Shiny roofs were everywhere,” said Mr Patel.

Erra assured the WB officials that 100 per cent of the school and health capacity that existed before the earthquake was running in permanent and temporary shelters.

They visited a girls‘ school built by the Poverty Alleviation Fund.

The WB officials also met the prime minister, his finance advisor, the State Bank governor and other officials to discuss economic issues, including external imbalances on national trade corridor and water management challenges.—PPI