France provides Rs382m for earthquake reconstruction
By Muhammad Ali Malik

ISLAMABAD—The French Government, through the French Development Agency-AFD, has provided 382 million rupees to ERRA for the rural housing reconstruction of the earthquake affected areas of NWFP and AJK.
According to French embassy, another disbursement of about 1 billion rupees will be made for additional projects in the coming months.
“Two and a half years after the terrible earthquake that struck the north of Pakistan, France is still following up on its commitment to assist Pakistan in its reconstruction effort,” said a spokesman of the French embassy.
During the International Donors Conference held on 19 November 2005 in Islamabad, former French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy pledged 80 million Euros in soft loan for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the earthquake affected areas.
Half of this pledge, 40 million Euros, is earmarked for the rural housing sector. The French soft loan dedicated to the rural housing sector is implemented through the French Overseas Development Assistance financial institution; The French Development Agency (AFD) has opened an office in Islamabad in July 2007.