ISLAMABAD, Oct 23: The Organization of Islamic Conference and Islamic Development Bank (IDB) have assured to fully support Pakistan in its efforts for reconstruction and rehabilitation in the aftermath of the October 8 earthquake.
The assurance to this effect was given by visiting OIC Secretary General Ekmeluddin Ihsanoglu and IDB president Dr Ahmad Mohammad Ali while addressing a joint press conference with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here after a meeting with him.
Mr Ihsanoglu justified his visit to Pakistan two weeks after the disaster by saying that he was planning to visit last week but could not make it. He, however, said the OIC swung into action on day one after the natural calamity rattled parts of Pakistan.
He said the OIC made an urgent appeal for assistance to Pakistan in this hour of trial and pointed out that 70 per cent of the total support Islamabad had received for relief was from the OIC member countries. “This symbolizes the solidarity of the Ummah,” he remarked.
He expressed sorrow over the tragedy which claimed thousands of lives and caused a colossal loss to property and said the OIC would continue to play its role to support Pakistan.
He said the OIC already had a Disaster Relief Fund, but the agenda of the forthcoming OIC summit will include improving it further.
IDB president Dr Ahmad Mohammad Ali said the bank will provide US dollars 251.6 million to Pakistan as emergency assistance.
Of the US $251.6 million assistance, US $1.6 million will be a non-refundable grant, US $100 million lease finance for 20 years, including a 5-year grace period with concessional mark-up of 3.825 per cent and US $100 million for trade finance to be used for import of petroleum products with concessional fee of one year LIBOR with 18 month repayment.
The grant is to be used to finance fast-disbursing projects in the fields of relief to affected communities, reconstruction of essential and social infrastructure and utilities damaged or destroyed by the disaster, and to provide victims with medicines, food supplies and blankets with special focus on mothers, pregnant women and children.
The US $50 million loan and the amount of US $100 million shall be used for rehabilitation, reconstruction and construction of new social and other vital infrastructure facilities damaged by the calamity as well as for provision of necessary equipment.
The IDB president said the bank will work closely with the government of Pakistan to implement the emergency assistance package speedily.
Prime Minister Aziz said the support from the OIC and IDB “has given strength and resilience to Pakistan”. He said Pakistan was grateful to all the countries, particularly the OIC member nations, who have donated generously after the massive earthquake.
The OIC secretary-general and the IDB president also called on Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri to express solidarity with the people and the government of Pakistan after the earthquake.
The OIC secretary-general informed the foreign minister that he had appealed to OIC member countries to participate in the Geneva Donors Conference scheduled for Oct 26. The OIC had already proposed to establish a fund for assisting the member countries devastated by natural disasters, which would now be diverted towards Pakistan.
Musharraf: President General Pervez Musharraf on Sunday expressed Pakistan’s gratitude to the international community and the Ummah for extending immediate rescue and relief assistance following the Oct 8 catastrophe but renewed his call for sustained world assistance in the challenging reconstruction and rehabilitation stages ahead, APP adds.
Talking to OIC Secretary-General Dr Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and President of Islamic Development Bank Ahmed Mohamed Ali, who called on him, he also underlined the need for setting up a permanent fund at the OIC to deal with such disasters in the Muslim world.
“The government and the people of Pakistan are extremely thankful to the world community, including Islamic countries, for extending rescue and relief help so sorely needed in the wake of the calamity.
“The immediate world response helped save thousands of lives and evacuate the injured for treatment,” he observed.
However, the president stated that the earthquake left millions of people homeless and devastated houses, infrastructure and government buildings over a large area of the NWFP and Azad Kashmir and “Pakistan needs continued assistance” from the international community in meeting the colossal challenge of restoring these.
“This is a challenge of huge proportions for any country or the government — and we will do our utmost to live up to the task — but we need continued international assistance in the form of finances as well as expertise to reconstruct houses, hospitals, schools and infrastructure.
“We will also need investment to rebuild millions of lives affected by the calamity,” he emphasized.
The OIC secretary-general and the IDB chief expressed full support and solidarity with the people and government of Pakistan.
They said they saw the scale of damage in Muzaffarabad and had an aerial view of damage in Balakot and other areas of the NWFP.
They said Pakistan deserved appreciation for its speedy rescue and relief operations in the face of the large-scale disaster.
ISLAMABAD, Oct 23: The Organization of Islamic Conference and Islamic Development Bank (IDB) have assured to fully support Pakistan in its efforts for reconstruction and rehabilitation in the aftermath of the October 8 earthquake.
