Donors’ conference planned on Nov 19: Bush has formed fundraising body: Aziz
By Iftikhar A. Khan
ISLAMABAD, Oct 29: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday announced that the international donors’ conference on reconstruction and rehabilitation would be held in Islamabad on Nov 19.
Talking to reporters after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Reconstruction and Rehabilitation, he said the UN secretary-general and presidents of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank had been invited to attend the conference.
The meeting decided to inform the prospective participants about different dimensions of the quake damage and reconstruction requirements by Nov 15 so that they came to the conference fully prepared with their response.
The prime minister said that US President George Bush had formed a committee of top businessmen to launch a fundraising campaign. He said some of its members had contacted him and they were also being invited to the conference.
The meeting noted that there had been improvement in the supply of food and provision of medical aid to the affected because of an increase in the number of helicopters being used for the purpose.
It was reiterated that the government would not allow adoption of unattended children. The prime minister said such children were our national responsibility and they would be kept in government institutions or other approved organizations. He, however, added that the number of such children was ‘minimal’.
Mr Aziz directed ministries of health, social welfare and women development to formulate a policy with regard to senior citizens, single parents and orphans. Three artificial limbs centres would be set up — one each at Islamabad, Muzaffarabad and in the NWFP to help amputees.
Issues relating to financial relief for victims were discussed. He said a campaign had already been kick-started for payment of Rs10,000 to each of the seriously injured. Payment has already been made to the injured under treatment at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, while it would soon be paid to the injured in other hospitals.
The prime minister said that governments of the NWFP and Azad Kashmir had been provided with Rs1 billion each and added that Rs100,000 would be paid to the heirs of each deceased.
Besides, the government is providing Rs25,000 each to quake victims in far-flung areas to help them repair their houses. Army jawans, masons and volunteers would assist them in the task.
He said the government would procure and supply 300,000 tents to the quake victims by the end of November and added that the management of tent cities was being improved. He again appealed to the people living on mountains to come down and avail of the facility.
He said that in line with the commitment of the prime minister of Turkey a seismic team had arrived in Pakistan from Turkey and was engaged in a seismic survey and added that China had offered to set up a seismic centre in Pakistan.
In reply to a question, Mr Aziz said he would announce a strategy in a couple of days in the National Assembly to get opposition’s cooperation in rebuilding and reconstruction activities.
He said it had been decided to observe Eid with simplicity. The cabinet members would spend Eid day with the injured in hospitals or people in affected areas. There would also be no formal calls on in connection with Eid and those engaged in relief operation would not have any holiday.
