PESHAWAR, Dec 26: US-based Association of Physicians of Pakistani-descent of North America (APPNA) president Dr Abdul Rashid Paracha has said that his association is planning to set up a rehabilitation centre in Mansehra.

The centre will be set up for those who suffered permanent disabilities in the aftermath of the Oct 8, 2005, devastating earthquake.

Talking to a group of civil society members at the University of Peshawar on Tuesday, Dr Paracha said that the Mansehra centre would be the second rehabilitation facility of APPNA in the country as the first such facility was almost ready to be inaugurated in Rawalpindi on Jan 1, 2007.

Limbs would be manufactured and provided to disabled people free of charge, he added.

APPNA, which is the largest representative body of Pakistani physicians with 10,000 members and branches all over North America, is actively engaged in development activities in Pakistan, either by direct involvement or by raising funds.

During the discussion session which was organised by the US consulate, Dr Paracha said that he had made four trips to Pakistan as APPNA’s president to launch earthquake relief efforts.

He said that APPNA’s projects included two rehabilitation hospitals, two schools, one basic health unit and a school for orphans from the earthquake affected areas.

Dr Paracha said that he also supervised the delivery of tents, blankets, medical supplies and equipment worth $4 million.

He said that APPNA’s Sehat programme was dedicated to the improvement of basic health care in all areas of Pakistan, including Mardan, Jacobabad, Badin, Sahiwal and Balochistan.