ISLAMABAD, Oct 16: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said the upbringing of unaccompanied child survivors of the earthquake is the responsibility of the government and adoption of these children will not be allowed.

He said: “The strength of child survivors assumed to be orphans or unaccompanied is minimal. Guardians of most of these children are with them. We are striving to search for the guardians of the rest of the children. A special team is working in this regard. The government will take upon itself to ensure the upbringing of these children. A ban will be imposed on adoption of these children in hospitals.”

He said this on Sunday while talking to journalists during his visit to the poly clinic and national institute of special education for inquiring about the health of injured children. These children were brought there from the quake-devastated areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the NWFP.

The prime minister was accompanied by Federal Minister for Health Naseer Khan and Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education Zubaida Jalal. He was also accompanied by his wife, Begum Rukhsana Aziz.

Mr Aziz said that the maximum number of injured people had been airlifted with the help of helicopters from the affected areas, and added that field hospitals had been set up in the quake-hit areas where the injured were being treated on a war-footing.

He said that steps were being taken on a fast-track basis for the rehabilitation of quake victims.

He said: “The whole nation stands beside their quake-affected brethren in this hour of test. Every one is contributing to rehabilitation work.”

The prime minister said: “Over a thousand injured children have been brought from Kashmir and Mansehra. Their guardians are with them. Adequate facilities of treatment are available for these children here. However, it will take time to return to normalcy.”

“I appreciate the ministry of health, the ministry of special education and other ministries for playing a pivotal role in difficult times. Volunteers are also devoting precious time at this juncture of time,” he said.

He said that special arrangements had been made in the hospital for the health care of children, and added that some seriously injured patients had also been brought there.

He said that field hospitals had been established in Muzaffarabad, Balakot and Mansehra.

Mr Aziz said: “Thirty-eight thousand people have lost their lives in this tragedy. The toll may rise. Injured are being brought from far-flung areas. Several areas are still inaccessible for us. However, endeavours are on to bring the injured back when the climate improves.”

Paying tribute to the soldiers who embraced shahadat in a helicopter crash, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said: “These soldiers have played a positive role for the rehabilitation of quake victims. The prayers of the entire nation are with them who endeavoured to save the lives of their fellow countrymen by rendering sacrifice of their lives.”—Online