Press Releases

USAID Continues To Assist Earthquake
Reconstruction Efforts In Pakistan:
Signs $120 Million Contract With CDM Constructors, Inc.

10/30/2006

Islamabad - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission in Pakistan has signed a five-year $120 million contract with CDM Constructors, Inc. through which the international construction company will assist USAID with its reconstruction efforts in the earthquake affected areas of Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) and Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK).

CDM Constructors, a company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts (USA) with several years of international experience in engineering, construction and operations in public/private sector environment and infrastructure development, has won the USAID Pakistan Earthquake Reconstruction and Recovery Program (PERRP) reconstruction contract effective from October 27, 2006.

"This is an important milestone in the USAID response to earthquake reconstruction in Pakistan," said USAID Mission Director Jonathan Addleton. "USAID-funded support programs in health, education and livelihoods have already been launched. Now our major contribution to the physical reconstruction of schools and health facilities in the earthquake-affected region can begin as well."

Under its four-year, $200 million Earthquake Reconstruction program, USAID is working in close cooperation with Pakistan’s Earthquake Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA), to rebuild schools and hospitals, improve education and health services and improve economic well being in the earthquake-affected areas of northern Pakistan.

CDM will assist and advise USAID’s reconstruction efforts by focusing on site assessments and community outreach activities, identification of community implementing partners, building designs and construction-ready sites to build primary schools and basic health care facilities, quality control, establishing and managing data bases for supporting reconstruction sectors (e.g. livelihoods, health and education), and supporting reconstruction-related events.

This new initiative will be implemented in close coordination with ERRA, providing another tool for moving forward on ERRA’s goal of "building back better" in the quake-affected areas.

USAID will spend up to $120 million over five years for its construction activities in the quake-affected areas, with CDM as its implementing partner. It will build, furnish and equip primary healthcare facilities and local hospitals, and primary, middle and high schools. All buildings will be constructed to meet internationally recognized earthquake resistant building standards and will provide access for the handicapped.

During the first year of the program, USAID will begin construction of 50 schools and 15 healthcare facilities, including the construction of the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Bagh.

Source: http://islamabad.usembassy.gov/pakistan/h06103001.html