Canadian High Commissioner inaugurates Chail Shagai bridge in the flood-stricken Sawat District

Canadian High Commissioner inaugurates Chail Shagai bridge in the flood-stricken Sawat District

Ross Hynes, the Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan on Monday inaugurated the Chail Shagai bridge in Swat District to restore transportation links to the communities links to communities cut off by the devastating floods in 2010.

The Canadian High Commissioner Hynes said that the Chail Shagai bridge is a symbol of longstanding friendship of Canada with Pakistan.

 “This bridge is a token of Canada’s longstanding friendship with Pakistan and demonstrates Canada’s continued commitment to assist Pakistan in its recovery from the devastating 2010 floods,” a press release from the Canadian high commission quoted Hynes
as saying.

Hynes said that his country was committed to help Pakistan recover from the devastating floods that have hit Pakistan in the successive years.

The 2010 floods caused a great havoc in Pakistan, mainly in the Khyber Pakhtun Khawa province of the country, formerly known as the NWFP. Most of the bridges in the flood-stricken districts were washed away by the flooding.

Chail Shagai bridge is one of the 24 bridges Canada is building in the 2010 flood-stricken districts of Pakistan. The Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada has provided $6 million for the installation of these bridges.

The Chail Shagai bridge has been installed by the Pakistan Army and will replace the bridge that was washed away by the floods in July-August last year. The bridge will be used by 9000 local residents.

The inauguration ceremony of the bridge was hosted by Brigadier Muhammad Tariq, Commander VII Brigade of Pakistan army. After the inauguration of the Chail Shagai bridge, the Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan met with local residents who had witnessed
the collapse of the previous bridge.

The High Commissioner saluted the resilience of the Pakistani people in the face of recent natural catastrophes.

Hynes also praised the Pakistan army, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the local authorities for the significant role they have played in response to the floods.

The Government of Canada provided 80 million US dollars to assist the sufferers of the 2010 floods, while the Canadians contributed private donations of over US$ 47 million.

Last month, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) earmarked $11 million for eight new projects in the flood-stricken districts of Southern Pakistan that has been affected by 2011 monsoon rains and ongoing flooding.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=2373

Posted by Asma Rafique on Nov 1 2011. Filed under Latest News, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry