ISLAMABAD, Dec 21: The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), with the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), will launch the first phase of its reconstruction programme in the quake-hit areas of Azad Kashmir and NWFP in March 2007.

Briefing newsmen here a senior ICRC official John Tulloch said 44 reconstruction projects were in planning phase and ground work was due to commence on nine of them in the first phase.

The Pakistan Red Crescent had signed an agreement with a public limited company to act as a consultant for the phase-1 projects. The consultant company was providing architectural, engineering and construction services. The company aims to complete specific designs relating to each location by January and will also develop tender documents and contract agreement for contractors.

He said under the reconstruction programme, construction of 44 public buildings encompassing health, education and community centre facilities would be completed by the end of 2008 and would be used by the earthquake-affected communities by 2009.

He said as soon as construction of phase-1 projects starts, groundwork for another 16 projects would commence.

He said it had been initially intended to commence up to five fast track projects by October. But since the planning process has been lengthy and complicated and the winter was setting in, the window of opportunity to commence reconstruction has been shut and work could not be commenced until the spring. “With various construction projects to take between 11 and 22 months to complete, given the delay until March next year, there is already severe pressure on completing all the projects by the end of 2008,” he remarked.

Under the disaster management plan, relief stocks for 25,000 beneficiary families would be maintained across the country at national headquarters, provincial branch headquarters and district branch levels. The disaster management programme is designed for three years (2006- 2008).

John Tulloch said the disaster management plan 2005-2010 was still in the draft phase and was expected to be finalised and approved in February 2007.

About health and care programme, he said it was aimed at enhancing prevention of disasters and diseases. He said in total, basic health care had been provided to half a million people over the first year of the operation. He said under an action plan, the focus was now on primary health care delivery via the mobile health clinics and support for basic health units.

He said the Federation intended to phase out its involvement in mobile health units during 2007.

He said the in addition with the emergency relief and health assistance provided to the people affected by the monsoon, the Pakistan Red Crescent and the Federation finalised planning for the Winter aimed at assisting people still vulnerable, particularly with regards to shelter, heading into the next year.