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The Earthquake Budget Project (EBP) is based at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), and funded through a grant by the Open Society Institute. The EBP tracks reconstruction funds and progress in the northern regions devastated by the 8th October 2005 earthquake. This publication is the culmination of its research over the past year (June 2007 to May 2008). We are grateful to OSI, in particular to Anthony Richter and OSI local staff in Pakistan, for encouragement and financial support. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the LUMS administration and students for their assistance.

The authors recommend that this groundbreaking work in budget monitoring and fiscal accountability of public funds be continued given its importance to policy-makers, non-governmental organizations, and the public at large. There is a critical need for Pakistani citizens to be involved in monitoring the flow of funds, and actual tangible outcome. This is a small effort that examines the significance of government promises, donor funds, and actual progress with respect to reconstruction efforts after the devastating earthquake of 8th October 2005.