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| November 12, 2005 | Saturday | Shawwal 9, 1426 |
Three UNHCR, two NATO, three cargo aircraft bring more relief goods ISLAMABAD, Nov 12 (APP): Three aircraft of the UNHCR, two of NATO and three cargo planes landed at the Chaklala Airbase Saturday with additional relief supplies for the quake victims. Despite poor visibility and bad weather army helicopters continued to drop food supplies and also evacuated some injured from the far flung areas of Azad Kashmir. Relief goods including food items, tents and tarpaulins are being carried forward from relief camps in the Neelam Valley for distribution among affectees in the area, an ISPR Press release said.(Posted @ 20:08 PST)
Quake won't impact Pakistan's economic growth: World Bank LAHORE, Pakistan, Nov 12 (AFP) – The devastating Oct 8 earthquake will not significantly slow Pakistan’s economic growth as "much of the impact of the damage would be sustained by the bilateral and multilateral donors over the period of the next few years," World Bank Vice President for South Asia Praful Patel told AFP. "In all probability Pakistan will not have to divert its public sector funding for reconstruction. The damage to the economy will not be more than 0.3 to 0.4 percent, and it is not going to dent the growth rate much." "I am confident that the money needed for the reconstruction in the first year will be on the table during the (Nov 19) donors' conference," he said. "I visited the area. The nature of the tragedy and the losses are very grave," Patel said, speaking at a World Bank meeting in Lahore. He suggested that relief efforts should be planned for the next 12 months, not just until the end of winter, which has just started. Donors say Pakistan will need more than 3.5 billion dollars to rebuild quake-hit towns and villages besides more than 90 million dollars to revive livelihoods lost in the earthquake and 1.6 billion dollars for relief efforts. Patel said that in order to achieve meaningful economic progress, Pakistan would have to sustain economic growth of seven percent for 10 to 15 years. "The bank is confident that Pakistan can get there if the major macro-economic indicators like inflation are managed," he said.(Posted @ 17:58 PST)
Army makes special sorties to provide fuel in quake-hit areas PESHAWAR, Nov 12 (APP): Despite poor visibility an MI-17 helicopter of Pakistan Army Aviation flew special sorties to airlift fuel for vehicles of earthquake victims stranded in the mountains of Naran Valley early Saturday morning, says an ISPR Press release. A large number of people have started migration from hamlets at hilltops following snowfall on the mountains of earthquake hit areas of NWFP. In Naran Valley, 1.5 feet snow has so far been recorded. In spite of inclement weather Army aviation helicopter successfully airlifted 2,000 litres of diesel and made it available to the stranded vehicles free of cost. Meanwhile, construction of shelters continued in full swing and 1,000 more CGI sheets were despatched. Army Engineers are training volunteers who will work with troops and locals in areas 5,000 feet above the sea level. From PAF base Chaklala, 18 sorties airlifted about 37 tons supplies including tents, blankets, medicines, ration and other items. Only two sorties were flown from Mansehra to Paras and Oghi, dropping 1.69 tons of relief goods. Four sorties by the United Nations helicopters dropped 32 tents 195 blankets and 1,270 kilogramme food items to different locations. From Mansehra 30 trucks loaded with relief goods were sent to Chattar Plain, Garhi Habibullah, Balakot, Shinkiari, Battagram and other affected areas. A total of 3,666 tents and tarpaulin, 26,919 blankets and tons of other supplies were distributed among survivors.(Posted @ 17:05 PST)
Govt. orders reopening of schools in quake-hit districts PESHAWAR, Nov.12 (APP): The NWFP Government has ordered reopening of all the schools in Mansehra, Battagram and Shangla districts with immediate effect. In case of damaged schools, the concerned Parents Teachers Association (PTA) in consultation with the respective District Government will make appropriate and alternate arrangements, an announcement said (Posted @ 16:48 PST)
Every possible effort being made to protect affectees: Idrees ISLAMABAD, Nov 12 (APP): NWFP Minister for Local Bodies and Rural Development Sardar Muhammad Idrees Saturday said that the second phase of reconstruction and rehabilitation has been started in the quake ravaged areas of NWFP. He said in a Ptv interview that in inaccessible areas, food stuff and relief goods were being provided through helicopters and animal transport. He said that those who do not want to leave their homes and villages be provided necessary help to face the harsh winter .(Posted @ 16:34 PST)
UAE 's relief efforts in full swing Islamabad, Nov 12 (PPI): Twelve more aircraft carrying relief supplies from the UAE Red Crescent have unloaded at Chaklala air base. A UAE embassy statement said a total of 1900 tons of relief goods have so far been unloaded , mainly tents, blankets, medicines and food items. Head of UAE Armed Forces team Brigadier Abdul Rahman Ibrahim Bin Abdul Aziz has said a total of 12,000 injured and sick people have been provided medical facilities by the UAE Armed forces field hospital in Balakot, while an outdoor clinic is receiving 550 people daily. Six medical units are searching for the injured and the sick in remote areas. (Posted @ 16:05 PST)
Third Kashmir crossing opened -- but not for people LINE OF CONTROL, India/Pakistan, Nov 12 (Reuters) – India and Pakistan opened a third crossing point on their de facto border dividing the earthquake hit region of Kashmir on Saturday, but as with earlier openings this week both sides exchanged relief supplies without allowing Kashmiris across. Frustrated villagers peered across during Saturday's opening ceremony, looking for relatives on the other side of the valley flanked by forested hillside and snowy peaks. "Today there will be no civilian movement, but later, after proper verification people from both sides can cross," Indian army Brigadier S. S. Jog said. Pakistan says the delay for movement of people across the border is because India is not ready. "It is ironic we can see each other but we cannot meet. Look at that man in green dress, he is my cousin," said Abdul Qadir, on the Indian side, pointing over the river. On the Pakistan side, Mohammad Sultan said he had walked for two days to reach Chiliana after speaking to his brother in occupied Kashmir and arranging to meet but all in vain. After scouring the crowd of villagers on the opposite bank of the Neelum with borrowed binoculars he still couldn't spot him. "This Line of Control has separated brothers. It has divided families. But now it's becoming out of control for us to live like this," said the visibly angry Sultan. (Posted @ 15:55 PST)
Conf. on post-earthquake reconstruction and development on November 13 WASHINGTON, Nov 12 (APP)- One-day conference on 'Beyond us, Beyond now': post- earthquake reconstruction and development, organized by the Organization of Pakistani Entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley (OPEN), will be held at George Washington University tomorrow (Sunday)to understand the challenges posed by the earthquake and assess opportunities and offer recommendations for improvement over the next year in primarily three areas: integration of displaced people, infrastructure development, and media awareness. (Posted @ 15:20 PST)
Maleeha Lodhi praises mosques' role on raising funds for quake victims LONDON NOV 12 (APP): Pakistan's envoy to Britain, Dr. Maleeha Lodhi has paid rich tributes to the mosques across the UK which have raised generous donations for the victims of the October 8 earthquake in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. On Thursday she visited and addressed a gathering at the Derby Jamia mosque which presented a cheque for 85,000 pounds for the President's Relief Fund. She informed the audience of the contributions received in the President's Relief Fund from mosques across Britain. Major contributions (in pounds) include High Wycombe Mosque: 78,800 ;Shahjahan Mosque, Woking 50,000; Glasgow mosque: 50,000; St.Lves Mosque: 45,400; Abu Bakar Mosque Bradford : 42,000;Newham Islamia Mosque: 34,000; Birmingham Mosque Trust: 29,965; Maidenhead Mosque: 25,000; Sheffield Jamia Mosque: 21,000; Brent Central Mosque 10,000; Halifax Walayat Foundation 23,142; Harrow Central Mosque: 10,000; Hendon Mosque: 10,000; ; Hounslow Jamia Masjid: 10,000; and Jamia Tabligh Bradford: 10,000(Posted @ 15:15 PST)
Mild intensity tremor jolts Quetta QUETTA Nov 11 (PPI): A tremor of mild intensity jolted Quetta and Kalat on Friday night at 2240 hours. There were no immediate reports of loss or casualties. When contacted, the Seismic Department Peshawar said that the earthquake measured 4.9 on the Richter scale and its epicentre was located 550 kilometres southwest of Peshawar in Balochistan. (Posted @ 10:10 PST)
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