QUETTA: The federal government has allocated no funds for reconstruction of infrastructure in parts of Awaran and Kech districts which were devastated by a powerful earthquake nine months ago, despite promises made by the PML-N government.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had promised, during their visit to the area after the earthquake, to provide all necessary financial support to the provincial government to rebuild the infrastructure.

The earthquake had left over 600 people dead and 800 others injured and had destroyed almost all the roads, bridges, water supply schemes, schools, colleges, hospitals and other government buildings in Awaran and Kech districts.

Although the government helped launch rebuilding of 16,000 destroyed houses by providing Rs220,000 to each affected family in the first phase of the reconstruction programme, no plan was made for the reconstruction of the destroyed roads, schools, hospitals, water supply schemes and other government buildings.

Deputy Speaker of the Balochistan Assembly Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, who was elected from the Awaran district, told Dawn on Wednesday that providing just Rs220,000 to each affected family for reconstruction of their two-room house was not enough.

Residents of the affected areas say that only 20 schools have been rebuilt by the provincial government, but hundreds of other school and college buildings have yet to be reconstructed.

“Buildings of around 200 schools for boys and girls were destroyed in Awaran,” Mir Qudoos said.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2014