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| December 15, 2005 | Thursday | Ziqa’ad 12, 1426 |
Government committed to transparent reconstruction, rehabilitation: Musharraf RAWALPINDI, Dec 15 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Thursday said the government is firmly committed to carrying out the process of reconstruction and rehabilitation in the quake-shattered areas in a transparent manner. He was speaking to Farooq Kathwari, a Kashmiri American business leader, who called on the him and made a $1 million donation to develop the educational facilities in areas damaged in the October 8 catastrophe. Musharraf said a web-site containing concise information on the number of educational and health facilities including schools, colleges, rural health centres, hospitals required at district, tehsil and down to the village level, would be made available to facilitate sponsors.(Posted @ 22:02 PST)
UN appeals for 22 million dollars for housing in Pakistan, Zimbabwe NAIROBI, Dec 15 (AFP) The United Nations on Thursday launched an urgent appeal for more than 20 million dollars to build shelter for people left homeless in Pakistan by a devastating earthquake and in Zimbabwe by a controversial demolitions campaign. The Nairobi-based UN Human Settlement Programme (HABITAT) asked donors to contribute 22 million dollars for the appeal that aims to assist millions of Pakistanis and Zimbabweans. Just over 18 million dollars of the money will be spent in Pakistan while the remainder will be used in the UN-backed programme, approved by Harare, to build 2,500 semi-permanent housing units for at least 12,500 Zimbabweans in the impoverished southern African nation, it said.(Posted @ 20:08 PST)
ADB approves 1.33 billion-dollar aid package for Pakistan MANILA, Dec 15 (AFP) The Asian Development Bank said Thursday it had approved 1.333 billion dollars in grants and loans for Pakistan to rebuild quake-hit areas and for other infrastructure and development projects. The package included 300 million dollars in assistance to help it restore the infrastructure and the economy in Azad Kashmir and North West Frontier Province, the two areas that bore the brunt of the October quake which killed about 73,000 people. "The project aims to quickly reverse the devastating impact of the earthquake and revive economic activity to enable people to resume their livelihoods and return to normal life," said Fernando Garcia, an ADB transport specialist. By far the largest component of the total aid package was a multi-tranche financing facility (MFF) of up to 770 million dollars and a related three million-dollar loan to upgrade the country's highway network. The MFF assistance can be used over 10 years, during which individual financing requests will be converted into separate loans. Most of them were expected to be at market rates. Another component was a 200 million-dollar loan at market rates and payable over 15 years to improve fiscal and financial governance in Punjab province. Lastly, the bank also approved two loans totalling 60 million dollars for an urban renewal project in Rawalpindi aimed at improving the city's water supply and sanitation facilities.(Posted @ 20:05 PST)
Peace bus reunites Kashmir after quake SRINAGAR, Occupied Kashmir, Dec 15 (Reuters) A bus linking Srinagar to Kaman post with seven passengers on board resumed its service on Thursday, Indian officials said. Indian officials said 15 passengers were cleared to travel but only seven, including five stranded passengers of Azad Kashmir, boarded the bus on Thursday. At least 10 passengers from Occupied Kashmir stranded in Azad Kashmir since the quake were expected to return home. "It is not clear how the passengers from (the) other side would travel to the Peace Bridge, as the road on the other side is still in a bad condition," an Indian official said.(Posted @ 19:22 PST)
Psychological counselling of children a must: PM ISLAMABAD, Dec 15 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Thursday stressed urgent psychological counselling of the children traumatised by the October 8 earthquake, which killed over 80,000 people. "If not treated at early stages, it can have an impact that can last for life," Aziz said while talking to volunteers providing counselling services to children at the H-11 Relief Camp. Aziz also addressed the young children and urged them to concentrate on their studies so that they can prepare themselves for future challenges. Aziz was informed about the lack of water at the facility and directed authorities to overcome the shortage from the main water supply line from Simly dam to Islamabad.(Posted @ 16:50 PST)
PBM disburses Rs. 129 mln to 7,142 quake affectees, Zobaida told NA ISLAMABAD, Dec 15 (APP): The National Assembly was informed on Thursday Pakistan Baitul Maal (PBM) had provided over Rs. 129 million as financial assistance to 7,142 earthquake affectees of NWFP and Azad Kashmir. Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education, Ms. Zobaida Jalal told the National Assembly during question hour this amount was disbursed in addition to relief and rehabilitation package announced by the government for the quake victims. The Minister said the government is responsible for the food,clothing, boarding and lodging, education, medical care and treatment including trauma counseling of these unclaimed children.(Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Bush Sr. appointed UN Special Envoy for Rehabilitation, Relief and Reconstruction of earthquake hit areas ISLAMABAD, Dec 14 (APP): Former President of the United States George Bush Sr. has been appointed United Nations Special Envoy for Rehabilitation, Relief and Reconstruction of the earthquake affected areas of the NWFP and Azad Kashmir. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan telephoned President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday and informed him of the appointment of the Special Envoy. Kofi Annan also discussed with President Musharraf rehabilitation, relief and reconstruction work being conducted in the earthquake-hit areas of the NWFP and Azad Kashmir. (Posted @ 09:20 PST)
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