September 2006
PPAF launches project for quake-hit areas
The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) launched its Restoration of Earthquake Affected Communities & Households Project (REACH) with a funding of Rs 1.6 billion from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed, deputy chairman of the Earthquake Rehabilitation & Reconstruction Authority (ERRA) was the chief guest at the launching ceremony held on Wednesday.
In his inaugural address, the chief guest praised the role of IFAD and PPAF in development of rural areas. He said rehabilitation is a big challenge for the country and REACH would play an important role. He said that approximately 600,000 homes had been assessed for damage and compensation given to 40,000 affected people. Ahmad Jamal acting chief executive PPAF, Nigel Brett country portfolio manager of IFAD, and Steve Jones coordinator for the World Bank also spoke on the occasion.
Technorati Tags: Pakistan, Poverty, PPAF, Earthquake, IFAD, ERRA, REACH, World BankFatima Bhutto questions efficacy of quake relief efforts
Fatima Bhutto, daughter of late Murtaza Bhutto, and grand-daughter of former prime minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and author of “8:50 AM: stories of hope and courage from the earthquake areas”, resorting to plain speaking and in a tone of cynicism, put forth some searching questions about the October 8, 2005 earthquake. She was speaking at the launch of her book at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday.
Thanking the other speakers for their tributes, she brought up some very intricate issues.
Technorati Tags: Fatima Bhutto, Murtaza Bhutto, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, earthquake, Karachi