17th Board Meeting of ERRA held:
Chief Secretaries of Provinces become Members of ERRA Board
The seventeenth Board Meeting of ERRA was held at ERRA Head quarters Thursday which was the first Board Meeting after the signing of ERRA Bill by President Asif Ali Zardari, which reconstitutes the ERRA Board with Chief Secretaries of all provinces being members of ERRA Board now. ERRA Board members including Chief Secretary AJK, Chief Secretary Sindh, Abdus Subhan, members of EAD, Ministry of Finance and Planning Division attended the meeting.
Welcoming the Board members Chairman ERRA Hamid Yar Hiraj thanked the Prime Minister for reposing his confidence in ERRA and giving it a permanent stature which will give it a national mandate. He said that resolve of the political leadership the representatives of the provinces on ERRA Board it is an opportunity to not only serve the nation, but also to make ERRA an exemplary organization for post disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation. Hiraj also emphasized the need for harmony among all stakeholders and said that in times of financial crunch, ERRA is closely collaborating with international donors and sponsors and has got promising response. Adopting a futuristic approach taking international community on board to help reconstruct in post disaster scenario ERRA will soon be having a Donors and Sponsors Conference said Hiraj.
Thanking the Board members, Dy Chairman ERRA, Lt Gen Sardar Mahmood Ali Khan said that it was an honor to be part of an organization which has earned international recognition due to its expertise and diversity. “Achieving the Sakakawa Award for Rural housing shows our efforts have been recognized at the international level also”, said Gen Sardar. He said that despite the financial crunch, ERRA will continue collaboration with international partners and other stakeholders in order to keep up the pace of work for ultimate consummation of task entrusted to ERRA. Emphasizing the significance of education for the future generation and development of the country, he said rebuilding of all educational projects is a priority, and suggested that greater focus be given to rebuilding of educational facilities at earliest possible time, for the board members unanimously supported him.
The Board approved of the minutes of the last ERRA Board meeting and budget for year 2011-2012. Ring Road project being built from Chinese loan linking Muzaffarabad and Kahota, Project for distribution and building ground storing tanks for water supply in Bagh, Laying of water distribution network in Rawalakot were also approved. The Board also approved improvement and Black Topping of Amnai to Puran Road district Shangla, for which the loan has been provided by the Islamic Development Bank. The Board also approved the revised PCIs for Medical Rehabilitation for physically disable Persons in earthquake affected areas. Revised PC-1s for Roads in AJ&K and KPK including Shinkiari Nawazada Road were also approved.