ISLAMABAD, May 26: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has asked the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) to expedite work on rehabilitation and reconstruction of quake-affected areas.

During a meeting with Erra deputy chairman Lt-Gen Akram Sajjad at the Prime Minister’s House on Monday, Mr Gilani observed that some of Erra’s educational projects were running behind schedule and required immediate attention.

He assured the government’s complete support in this regard. He expressed the confidence that despite challenges Erra would be able to meet the rehabilitation and reconstruction target.

The prime minister said he had promised to the people during his visit to the quake-hit areas that despite his busy schedule he would hold monthly meetings of the Erra council to review the progress of work.

He said that work on mega projects in Muzaffarabad should also be expedited.

The prime minister has already lifted a ban on recruitment for project-related managerial and technical posts.

He said that although the earthquake had caused a great loss to the people, the reconstruction process generated new opportunities and instilled the spirit of self-reliance and self-confidence in the people. He said that involvement of more than half a million people in the reconstruction work had ushered in a new era of social and economic activities in the area.

The Erra deputy chairman apprised the prime minister of progress on a number of projects in the affected areas of AJK and the NWFP.

He said that international agencies had reposed confidence in Erra for execution of reconstruction and rehabilitation projects.

He said that elected representatives of the affected areas were being taken on board for early completion of the reconstruction work.