President promises full account of quake funds
Says Rs250b to be spent on rebuilding - Decries Opposition’s role in donors’ moot
By Zulfiqar Ahmad

ISLAMABAD—President General Pervez Musharraf launched a national movement Wednesday to make a coherent use of the countrywide spirit of volunteerism in rebuilding quake-damaged areas as world pledges for reconstruction assistance rose to US dollars 6.1 billion dollars. I am confident that with organized participation of volunteers, the government and the armed forces, we will improve lives of quake survivors and demonstrate our commitment to transparency and organization through effective implementation of reconstruction strategy” he declared.
Addressing participants of National Volunteers Movement (NVM) the President said the world response at the weekend’s donors conference reflected international trust in Pakistan’s commitment to transparency and honesty as well as its elevated status in the comity of nations. All information about execution of the strategy and utilization of funds will be available on the web site, which is to go online shortly - the entire process will be transparent and coherently,” he said after Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz announced that international donations had touched US dollars 6.1 billion.
Pakistan, in unison with the World Bank, the United Nations and Asian Development Bank had estimated the reconstruction cost at US dollars 5.2 billion. The donors’ conference, attended by 85 countries surpassed the estimates, which the President said would be used for bolstering the quality of life as the Government does not want to restore the devastated infrastructure but pursue a need-based strategy.
President Musharraf said the injection of a hefty amount of Rs 250 billion as part of reconstruction efforts would help kick up economic activity and announced Rs 150,000 for each of the over 400,000 quake-destroyed houses for their rebuilding. “This will surely be helpful in mitigating the sufferings of people in the 28000 sq km mountainous region of NWFP and Azad Jammu and Kashmir”.
He said under the owner-based strategy for reconstruction of houses the Government would extend Rs 25,000 additional amount to the owners raising houses in conformity with the set standards of quake-proof structures. Commenting on a suggestion about the use of loans being offered to the country, he said, these would be for a period of 40 years with minimal service charges.
“In terms of loans, we will never do anything that slides Pakistan back to pre-1999 financial straits — we will be very careful in using all financial resources,” he vowed. President Musharraf said donors’ conference saw unprcedented participation of the international community, with 85 countries attending it but regretted that the opposition parties stayed away from the event held for the national cause.
On extension of Rs 150,000 for reconstruction of each house destroyed in October 8 calamity, the President observed that 90 of the destroyed houses are in rural areas and the Government has fixed the amount keeping in view that fact. “We shall look after all people, particularly the poor in the quake zone.” he said.
Dilating on tasks needing volunteers’ participation, Musharraf said carrying out relief operations through the next year is a major area. He particularly outlined that volunteers will have to assist those people opting to stay on hilltops to re-erect their houses, help maintain hygiene environment at camps set up in valleys and later assist people descending from mountains to settle in the valleys.