NDMA: (Early completion of New Bala Kot City top priority: NDMA Chairman).

ISLAMABAD -- Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lt General Muhammad Afzal on Sunday vowed to accelerate pace of work on construction of New Bala Kot city project.

He said, in this regard, new financial models will be presented to Prime Minister Imran Khan regarding availability of funds.

He expressed these views while talking to media during his visit to Bala Kot to review the latest situation on the project.

When asked the completion of this old project, Chairman NDMA said that he was determined to clear the backlog as early as possible and wanted to assure the locals that he would leave no stone unturned to achieve the task.

He said he was fully aware of the difficulties and problems being faced by the locals due to incompletion of the project.

He said all the impediments would be removed that have created different problems in completion of the project and rehabilitation of the residents of the area, which have suffered a great loss due to natural calamity.

"In six months 'Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority' (ERRA) will hand over two thousand developed plots to the district administration, which will be allotted to the people", he revealed.

He said financial plans and models will be presented to the PM and Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said ERRA want to take on board all the stakeholders before moving ahead and with the spirit of consensus and whole heartedness of the local population, the process can be fast tracked. "The area is blessed with huge potential of tourism that can prove to be a fate changer for the people and this city", he added.

To a question, he said NDMA was working on measures that may help reduce risks of disasters and a better mechanism to protect people in case of any such catastrophe. "This work plan report expected to be prepared in four to six month", he said.

Commissioner Hazara on the occasion briefed that fifteen thousand acres of land has been acquired for the construction of New-Bala Kot city project and there are some disputes on seven hundred and thirty three kanals, where some litigants have approached the High Court.

He...