May 4, 2006	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 5, 1427

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ABBOTTABAD, May 3: The European Union (EU) has pledged to provide $375 million for rehabilitation of quake-hit people in the NWFP and Azad Kashmir.

EU Ambassador Ilka Usitalo said this while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Pak-Irish Rehabilitation Centre (Pirc) on Wednesday. Pirc has been set up with the support of the people of Ireland.

Stressing maximum involvement of community in the rehabilitation process, he said the affected people needed urgent help to be able to re-start their normal life without delay.

The envoy assured support for earthquake victims on behalf of the Irish people and other countries of the European Union.

Sarfraz Ahmed Syed, director-general special education, ministry of social welfare and special education, said that the ‘National Task Force’ set up by the federal government had prepared a national strategy and plan of action, which would be implemented by Islamabad and the governments of the Frontier province and Azad Kashmir.

Pirc director Babar Khalil briefed participants about salient features of the project where facilities of physiotherapy, artificial limbs and allied services would be available for disabled persons.

Babar Khalil said that majority of the disabled were children who needed long-term counselling.

He said that a mobile unit had been established to help the needy in far-flung areas of the Hazara division in the NWFP and Azad Kashmir.

Mr Khalil said that around 265 patients had been registered by Pirc where they were being treated for limbs and hands disability.

District nazim of Abbottabad Sardar Haider Zaman also spoke.