ISLAMABAD, Oct 15: The central executive committee (CEC) of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League on Saturday proposed to convene an all parties conference to discuss relief work in quake-hit areas and chalk out a long-term strategy for providing shelter to survivors.
The CEC, presided over by PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, was attended among others by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Chaudhry Shujaat stressed the need for coordinated efforts by all political parties to help the quake victims.
He said that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would consult President Gen Pervez Musharraf before extending formal invitation to political parties for the APC.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Aziz said that more than 38,000 people were killed in the Oct 8 earthquake and a large number of others were still under the debris.
“The government is committed to using all its resources with the help of foreign rescue teams to retrieve those under the rubble and to provide treatment to the injured and accommodation to the homeless,” the premier emphasized.
He said special survey teams had been sent to assess the extent of devastation in remote villages of Azad Kashmir and Hazara division areas where people were still waiting for relief items which had not reached them yet due to communication hurdles.
“The government will take the responsibility of those children whose parents are missing for their proper care and education and of the widows for their rehabilitation,” he pledged.
Mr Aziz appreciated the monetary assistance and rescue help provided by various foreign countries and called for increased cooperation.
Talking to Dawn, a minister of state said that some of the opposition parties might boycott the APC. “Leaders of some opposition parties have expressed reservations over the recent National Security Council meeting which was attended for the first time by NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani amid wide criticism,” said the minister, seeking anonymity.
The CEC through a unanimous resolution commended the zeal and enthusiasm demonstrated by people in extending help to those affected by the quake.
He said so 15 field hospitals had been established in the affected areas with the assistance and cooperation of international community.
