KARACHI: Karachi in forefront of relief work: Ibad
KARACHI, Oct 15: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has said that people of Karachi have remained on the forefront in the relief efforts for the victims of the earthquake. “I am confident that they will participate in the rehabilitation of the distressed and displaced people with the same spirit and vigour,” he remarked.
The governor was talking to various delegations of industrialists, builders and other professionals and traders at the Governor’s House on Saturday. They delegations had called on the governor to deliver donations towards the President’s Relief Fund for the Earthquake Victims-2005.
The MD of the Habib Oil Mills donated ghee worth Rs0.1 million, KATI delegation led by Mr Gulzar Feroz presented a cheque of Rs2 million, the Abad delegation delivered Rs2.5 million and MD of the BASF Ltd. Kazi Sajid Ali gave Dr Ibad a cheque of Rs1 million.
The KATI’s donation has now touched Rs20 million mark.
The governor said he was thankful to all those who had contributed to the relief fund, and made particular mention of the donations by people and industrialists of Karachi. He said medical students deserved tributes for rendering their valuable services at medical camps.
He observed that in the past, various government organizations, NGOs and universities had chalked out their own disaster management plans but they lacked coordination.
Dr Ibad said that a disaster management plan was being finalized and after the stipulated time of two weeks, the same would be sent to other provinces and federal government for further study.
Pointing out that the plan was being provided legal cover, he said that previously, such plans did not have government patronage, but now the government itself was focusing its attention on it.
He told the delegations that foreign countries had also pledged cooperation in the rehabilitation of earthquake victims.
The governor said that after completion of the emergency relief work, the same spirit and dedication would be required in the rehabilitation process.
He said that although all sorts of relief goods were being sent to the affected areas, the most urgently needed were tents and blankets.
He noted that a very large quantity of relief goods had been collected in Karachi and keeping this in view, the prime minister had been requested to order more cargo trains to carry them to the affected areas.
The governor said that the prime minister had also been informed of a shortage of medicines upon which he had held out the assurance that imports of the required medicines from any country would be exempted from duty.
The governor also warned of action against those transporters who had resorted to overcharging in ferrying relief goods. He regretted that instead of doing this job for a noble cause voluntarily, they had resorted to profit-making.
Visit: Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat Ibad has said that Pakistani nation is a ‘living nation’ and such nations have unbounded courage and spirit to emerge successful in major tests and trials.
The country is faced with a big tragedy but the way the government and opposition are making relief efforts, there is no reason to believe that we will emerge successful in this test.
He made these remarks during his four-hour visit to the PAF Base relief camp, and such camps set up by Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation, Al-Khidmat, city government, Pakistan Rangers, Aisha Manzil Community Development, DCO Camp Office, etc.
The governor referred to the appointment of relief commissioners, duty free import of essential medicines and other measures taken by the government to expedite the process of transportation of relief goods to the affected areas.—APP/PPI
