April 05, 2007	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 16, 1428

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CHITRAL, April 4: The government on Wednesday announced monetary relief for the affected people of Chitral district where an avalanche hit three villages the other day. Addressing a press conference here, the Federal Minister for Political Affairs, Engineer Amir Muqam, said that Rs100,000 would be given each to the heirs of the deceased, while Rs50,000 would be provided each to the injured. He also announced free medical treatment for the critically injured persons in the hospitals of Peshawar and Islamabad.

He stressed that instead of politicising the situation, the central and the provincial governments must make endeavours to allay the hardships of the affected people.

The minister said that due to heavy snowfall in the region, the condition of roads had worsened and directed the National Highway Authority to mobilise machinery to Chitral via Afghanistan to clear them for traffic. He added that Rs8 million had already been allocated to the Peshawar Electric Supply Company for the rehabilitation of supply in the district. Meanwhile, army aviation helicopters continued relief operations in the area. An ISPR press release said that two helicopters flew three missions to deliver and distribute relief goods.