ISLAMABAD, Dec 2: Chief Relief Commissioner Maj-Gen Farooq Ahmad Khan has said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) forces will leave by the end of the next month after completing their relief operation in Pakistan.
Speaking at a press briefing here on Friday, he said that the Nato troops had come to assist Pakistan in relief operations in the quake-affected areas for a period of 90 days.
He said the Nato personnel were doing a tremendous job in Rawalakot and Bagh areas of the Azad Kashmir.
The relief commissioner said reconstruction activities would be launched after completion of a seismic survey in the quake-affected areas. The survey was being conducted by Chinese and Turkish seismic experts to determine safe places for reconstruction, he said, adding that it was expected to be completed by next month.
Mr Khan said food stocks were currently adequate and the government was working closely with the World Food Programme to ensure delivery of food stuff to the affected areas.
He said surveillance and monitoring of diseases through early warning system has proved to be valuable in keeping a check on the situation and there was no report of serious outbreak so far.
He said relief and rehabilitation activities were going on at a fast pace with the priority to provide shelter to the affected people.
He said that ten engineer battalions were busy setting up shelters in the NWFP and Azad Kashmir and about 25,000 one-room shelters had been constructed, whereas 7,000 more shelters were under construction. He said that the battalions were constructing 1,500 to 2,000 shelters daily.
Gen Khan said that more shelter sheets and blankets were required to protect people from cold weather.
He said that to the day 17,000 winterized tents had been received and Pakistan was in need of more. He said the government was grateful to the Turkish government for relief.
