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| November 7, 2005 | Monday | Shawwal 4, 1426 |
PM directs swift distribution of compensation
BALAKOT, Nov 6: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday directed swift distribution of compensation among people affected by the earthquake and asked the governments of AJK and the NWFP to provide a daily summary of the payments made.
The prime minister who was visiting quake-hit areas to express solidarity with the people on Eidul Fitr said, the federal government had already released funds for compensation of Rs100,000 to heir of people who lost their lives, Rs25,000 for seriously injured and another Rs25,000 for reconstruction of houses destroyed in the disaster.
He asked the people still reluctant to leave their houses, in the highlands to get registered at relief centres set up in towns and cities so that compensation can be made, after verification of their particulars.
Addressing a gathering of people, who lost their houses and lost their family members, here at a tent village, around 10 kms from Balakot, he said “the whole nation today stands with you in your hour of trial and we will do everything to mitigate your sufferings.”
He urged the nation to stand united in the aftermath of the earthquake to face the challenges ahead with courage and determination.
“We with the help of our civil society, NGOs, volunteers and the armed forces, will overcome all challenges and will make Pakistan strong.”
He said three centres were being set up at Mansehra, Muzaffarabad and Islamabad for provision of modern artificial limbs for those who had to undergo amputations.
He said schools in all the quake affected areas would start functioning soon and said large tents have already been dispatched to all such locations.
Mr Aziz who was accompanied by Chief Minister NWFP Mohammad Akram Khan Durrani and Ministers for Information Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, was earlier briefed about the housing facility for over 1,200 people, provision of separate toilets for men and women, clean drinking water, medical camp and school.
He was told that water purification systems have been installed by UNICEF, Australia, Germany and the Red Crescent which were providing clean water in the camps and in the city.
Mr Aziz called for establishing utility stores so that people can buy everyday commodities at reasonable prices. He also directed provision of generators in camps.
He visited different sections of the camp, including the new kitchen, which was being established by a seven-member South Korean team of volunteers that can cater to around 5,000 meals three times a day.
Mr Aziz was highly appreciative of the gesture and said it was a lesson for all to learn, and how to help the fellow people in their difficult time.
He later distributed eidee among children. He later visited relief camp at Banda Sahib Khan near Havelian. The camp can cater to 10,000 people, but so far has only 500 inhabitants who are getting food, medical aid and shelter.
The Lions Club has donated steel cabins for the affected people from Balakot, Bagh, Muzaffarabad, Allai and Abbotabad.
The camp has a full time doctor, a dispensary and an ambulance, besides a madressah and separate schools for girls and boys. He was informed that the children have been vaccinated, while the area was being sprayed regularly.
ROAD OPENED: Mr Aziz had an aerial view of Khaghan Valley which has been reopened on Saturday was informed that the army engineers have been able to remove the landslide and made a track for jeeps and light vehicles to cross. The army engineers were working to make the road wider to enable trucks and larger vehicles move through with relief goods to affected areas.—APP
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