ISLAMABAD, Nov 19: Major international donors on Saturday reiterated their demand for effective, even and transparent utilization of financial assistance they have pledged for reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in earthquake-hit areas. Speaking at the Donors Conference Pakistan-2005, organized by the government for fund raising for quake recovery, Asian Development Bank President Haruhiko Kuroda said his bank would incorporate anti-corruption safeguards in its assistance projects.

He said ownership by all the stakeholders — the government, civil society, affected communities, private sector and other development partners — was essential to curb corruption in the aftermath of such large-scale disaster.

“It is our mutual aim and obligation to ensure that every dollar, every rupee of our assistance goes to restore the livelihoods and property of the earthquake survivors,” said the ADB chief.

He said they were looking at a national tracking system for emergency funds, and considering how to most effectively monitor and evaluate progress.

“We are working in close cooperation with the World Bank and other donors to ensure a harmonized and consistent approach to matters associated with management and use of emergency funds.”

World Bank Vice-President Praful C. Patel said: “Coordination of emergency efforts must pave the way for coordination of reconstruction efforts where policies, procedures, regulation and oversight are required to avoid waste, fraud and distortion.”

He said as the people and the government began to rebuild homes, schools, roads, bridges and businesses, uniform policies would be needed to avoid varying approaches to housing, public facilities, access to goods and services and provision of security and justice.

He said it was also critical that reconstruction avoided any sense of unfairness by preferential treatment of one part of an affected area or of urban over rural areas.

“There must be commitment by all sides to ensure even reconstruction regardless of political affiliation or perceptions of strategic value. We cannot waiver in the wake of disaster in our efforts to reach everyone.”

Representatives of the European countries said they were answerable to their tax payers for the corruption-free use of their funds.

In a joint statement, they said that 10 guiding principles — particularly transparency and accountability and broad political ownership repeatedly emphasized by President Musharraf and Prime Minister Aziz — should serve as a basis for future cooperation.

The statement called for rapid rebuilding of people’s livelihoods by accelerating revitalization of the local economy.