PESHAWAR: Director General of Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and member Emergency Response Unit Shakil Qadir Khan Tuesday exhorted international donor agencies to expedite the process of preparing their plans as the provincial government had decided in principles to launch the Early Recovery Plan immediately.

“The provincial government wants early settlement of IDPs in their respective areas and initiation of rehabilitation process in those areas where the basic infrastructure has been destroyed due to terrorist activities of militants and army operation against them,” said Shakil Qadir while presiding over an important meeting about initiation of Early Recovery Plan in Buner District held here. The meeting was attended by representatives of UN donor agencies, officials of health, education and agriculture departments. Earlier, DCO Buner Yahya Akhundzada  briefed the participants about the destruction in Buner district during the operation against the militants.

According to an ERU handout issued here, Shakil Qadir, who is also ex-officio secretary of Provincial Return, Rehabilitation and Settlement Authority (Parrsa), said that the provincial government had selected Buner District for initiating the recovery plan as law and order situation is better in the district. “We want Sultanwas, a village of Buner from where the operation has been launched against the militants should be made a model town,” he added.

He urged the officials to expedite the process of compiling reports about the damage in the district so the provincial government is able to arrange funds for rebuilding the infrastructure. “Our main focus should be on rebuilding the destroyed schools and other health facilities,” he went on to say.

Shakil Qadir exhorted the UN donor agencies to provide help to the provincial government in rebuilding the infrastructure in Buner District. “The government will leave no stone unturned to provide maximum facilities to the dwellers of Buner District,” he added.

He said that the provincial government would launch the Early Recovery Plan in all areas of Malakand Division and other districts of the province as the whole province has suffered during the activities of militants and subsequent army operation against them.