$300 Million in Assistance for Pakistan to Rebuild Areas Worst Hit by Earthquake
15 December 2005MANILA, PHILIPPINES - ADB will help restore infrastructure and livelihoods in the two Pakistan provinces that suffered worst damage and destruction from the devastating earthquake of 8 October through an assistance package totaling US$300 million.
The Earthquake Emergency Assistance Project is part of $1 billion in assistance ADB announced in November. It will reconstruct lost assets and restore services in Pakistan following the quake. It will address the most urgent needs in the transport, power, and health and education sectors in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Northwest Frontier Province. It features a quick disbursing mechanism amounting to $108 million to finance import of materials urgently needed for the recovery process.
The project additionally addresses the needs of vulnerable groups, including women and children, and assists affected people by supporting the reissue of lost documentation as well as protecting their legal rights.
The project's design is based on the findings of a preliminary damage and needs assessment prepared for the Government by donors, led by ADB and the World Bank, released in November.
The earthquake was the most debilitating natural disaster in Pakistan's history, killing, according to official figures, about 73,000 and leaving another 70,000 severely injured or disabled. More than 2.8 million people have been left without shelter and 2.3 million are without adequate food. The cost of reconstruction and restoring services is estimated to be $3.5 billion.
The total loss of jobs was around 324,000 jobs, equal to about 29% of the previously employed population in the worst hit districts and affecting nearly 1.6 million people.
"The project aims to quickly reverse the devastating impact of the earthquake and revive economic activity to enable people to resume their livelihoods and return to normal life," says Fernando Garcia, an ADB Senior Transport Specialist.
"It has been prepared through a highly consultative exercise with work harmonized among donors and as far as possible with the prevailing system in Pakistan. Local communities and beneficiaries will take active part in the selection, design, implementation, and operation of all work carried out."
Work planned includes rehabilitation of earthquake-damaged major roads and bridges; repair of hydropower generating stations, and construction of new lines and facilities; and reconstruction of health and education facilities in the affected districts.
As the quake damage also enormously strained government administration and resources at all levels, the project will offer legal assistance and address governance and institutional building. This includes replacing certificates of death, marriage, birth, etc., property titles and ID cards, and providing legal assistance to quake victims to help them address legal and documentary issues, and support the legislative framework under consideration.
"The legal and institution building component is essential to ensure transparency in the emergency assistance process and will make full use of media and local languages to keep the public notified and updated on progress," Mr. Garcia adds.
The Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority, established by presidential decree in response to the earthquake, will be the executing agency for the project, which is due to be completed within three years. The Ministry of Finance will manage the multidonor Consolidated Fund for Emergency Earthquake Assistance established in the State Bank of Pakistan through which the project funds will flow.
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