ISLAMABAD, March 12: The Pakistan Red Crescent Society would soon hand over to local authorities seven newly constructed buildings in the earthquake affected areas of NWFP and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The buildings constructed at the cost of Rs220 million include Govt Girls Degree College Gari Dupaata, Boys Middle School Hattian Bala, Government Girls High School No 2 Mansehra City, Boys Middle School Shohal Najaf Khan, Girls Middle School Shohal Najaf Khan, Girls Middle School Shohal Mazzula, and a Basic Health Unit at Najaf Khan.

This was stated by the PRCS Secretary General Brig (Retd) Mohammad Ilyas Khan while briefing the executive committee meeting that was chaired by its Chairman Saeed Ahmed Qureshi here on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by the PRCS executive committee members Mian Mohammad Javed, Maj-Gen (Retd) Chaudhry Mohammad Nawaz, Mian Tayyab Hussain, Gul Haneef and Fazalullah Qureshi.

Mr Khan told the meeting that all the buildings were built on modern techniques keeping in view the seismic design parameters issued by Erra and design diagrams for each project were approved by Nespak.

“All the educational facilities are being provided with furniture, latest laboratory, equipments, multipurpose halls and sports facilities,” Ilyas Khan added.

He said all these buildings were completely damaged during the October 8 earthquake in 2005. The PRCS has reconstructed these buildings in collaboration with International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies. The remaining 25 projects which are included in Phase-2 and 3 are under various steps of construction.

The PRCS chairman Saeed Ahmed Qureshi speaking on the occasion expressed satisfaction over the timely completion of these projects and directed the officials concerned to further speed up work on the ongoing projects saying the facility would help meet the educational and health requirements of the people of the area.

Mr Qureshi also thanked International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies and other sister national societies for their collaboration with the PRCS in meeting the huge challenge.

It is to be mentioned here that, the PRCS, with the assistance of various international federation of red cross/red crescent societies and other donors, is undertaking 32 projects across North West Frontier Province and AJK.

The PRCS Joint Director Construction Engineer Gohar Ali Shah said that the society is not normally involved in large scale reconstruction projects, but with 6,300 educational institutions damaged or destroyed and 75 per cent of 800 health facilities in the quake zones damaged or destroyed and there was such a large need that the PRCS took up this challenge.

The reconstruction programme is a huge undertaking for the Pakistan Red Crescent. It involves a total budget of over US$16 million. The PRCS has a skilled team of engineers being supported by an International Federation Construction Delegate.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued here on Wednesday, Deputy Chairman Erra Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed expressed satisfaction over the pace of reconstruction, however he observed that certain affected people had not started building their homes despite receiving compensation in this regard.

He called upon the affected people to complete their houses up to the plinth by first April so that the inspection team should complete the inspection of houses by June 30.