October 08, 2005 shall always be remembered as a black day in the history of Pakistan. This ill-fated day brought havoc causing colossal damage to life and property. A number of children went to schools for their better future but never turned back. The buildings that should give them the protection, in fact fell upon them. Despite all their efforts parents watched their loving children helplessly, screaming for help and eventually dying. Those who were lucky and managed to escape are still running through trauma. UNICEF termed this tragedy as “children’s catastrophe”.

NESPAK was earlier assigned by ERRA to prepare standard designs of educational facilities based on the standards set our by National Reference Manual on Planning & Infrastructure Standards, by Ministry of Housing & Works, Environment & Urban Affairs Division. Later, ERRA assigned NESPAK to take up detailed design and tender documentation of all the affected institutes not being taken up by donors/sponsors. In Year-1 603 institutes in Khyber Phukhtoonkhwa and 464 in AJK are to be reconstructed/ retrofitted/ repaired by NESPAK.

So far NESPAK has surveyed 1911 school (1670 in Khyber Phukhtoonkhwa and 861 in AJK) educational facilities in all 9 affected Districts. Meanwhile detailed architectural & engineering designs were also prepared and bidding documents for 573 educational facilities in Khyber Phukhtoonkhwa and 566 in AJK has been forwarded to concerned engineering departments for inviting bids from pre-qualified constructors. So far 300 schools in Khyber Phukhtoonkhwa and 220 in AJK have been awarded to successful contractors for reconstruction. (July 20, 2008)

During this period, NESPAK team remained in continuous touch with ERRA, PERRA/ SERRA, concerned Engineering Departments and Education Department and DRU staff and kept them informed about the progress of work. Meanwhile architectural and engineering designs were prepared for different level of schools. Modular designs for ease of construction are prepared of different number and sizes of rooms. It is assured that the design should fulfil the requirements to be as earthquake resistant structure and at the same time it should be user friendly.

Technical specifications considering the materials to be used and in relation to its availability in the affected areas were prepared. Conditions of Contract along with detailed Bill of Quantities and Engineer’s Estimate were also prepared. By the end of year Annual Progress Report – Year 2005 - 2006 37 2006, 8 schools of District Abbottabad, 4 schools of District Mansehra, 9 schools of District Kohistan, 9 of District Muzaffarabad, 6 of Bagh and 7 of District Poonch were awarded to successful contractors. NESPAK is striving hard to achieve the set target in due consultation with all stake holders.