Pakistan and France have signed a financing agreement of Euro 40 million to support rural housing reconstruction sector of the earthquake-affected areas of Pakistan, says an official statement. The agreement was signed by Economic Affairs Division (EAD) Secretary M. Akram Malik and Ambassador of France to Pakistan Regis de Belenet. State Minister for EAD Hina Rabbani Khar and Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) Chairman Altaf Saleem were also present on the occasion. Miss Khar said this agreement is in the context of the pledge made by the French government during the International Donor Conference held on November 19, 2005 in Islamabad for 80 million Euro ($ 94 million) as soft loan for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the earthquake affected areas. She said that half of this pledge-40 million Euro ($ 47 million) will be utilized in the rural housing sector and remaining half will be used to fund the environment sector (water and sanitation).
