People of earthquake-hit areas to feel better change: Waqar
By Ali Imran

 ISLAMABAD—Brig. Waqar Iqbal Raja of ERRA, said Monday that people of earthquake-hit areas will feel a better and positive change.
Talking to PTV he said new Balakot city will be developed like a model city having all required and latest facilities. But, new towns cannot be developed over night, he added.
Micro zonation survey, other survey details take time and it was a time consuming job, he said adding, qualified foreign companies after complete analyses gave a road map as to how to go about Balakot. He said, there were still two fault lines meaning that population is required to be shifted elsewhere to a safer place.
He said, the government has given nearly 30,000 canals of land for establishing new city near Bakrayal, Athershisa. To a question he said, as a temporarily arrangement nearly five thousand pre-fabricated houses are being set up in Balakot as proper town planning of Balakot can not take place at this stage.
Its a time consuming task as seismic survey and soil analyses are to be held with town planning. A proper modern city will be developed, he added.
To another question he said, "We tried hard to disseminate information among masses through all available channels like TV, Radio, Newspapers. But, we also tried our best towards implementation side." He further said, "We made final our contingency plan for winter during last month."
Nearly 30000 to 35000 people are presently in tentage village. Winterized settlers were physically verified, he said adding, a process has been completed but, once again the process will be completed by October's end.
To a question, he said that construction work for more than 30 percent houses have been started. Its an authenticated figure and it was reported by ERRA in a survey report which was presented to the government, he added.