Islamabad: The federal government has announced its decision to grant PKR 432.56 million to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) executive to mitigate landslide risks in the area’s Poonch Division, according to news sources.
The federal executive recently signed an agreement to this effect with the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) and the AJK government on Monday. The project is estimated to cost PKR 619.91 million; for which the federal government (through NDRMF) will share 69.77% (PKR 432.65 million) and the AJ&K government will pay 30.23% (PKR 187.36 million) of the total expenses.
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The project aims to secure 331,563 individuals currently at risk by landslides and stabilise 12.29 hectares of land. The project will mitigate risk to major roads in various AJK districts and ensure an uninterrupted flow of traffic to strengthen tourism.
This project is scheduled for completion within a time frame of 22 months and will secure people against landslide risks, offer sustained communication between different localities, offer access to services, provide food transport – as well as safeguard state and private properties.
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The NDRMF is partnering up with various public and private entities in a bid to reduce the socio-economic and financial risk of climate change to the country and its people.