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LAHORE, Oct 12: The Punjab government has linked all its districts directly with the four central points in the quake-hit areas in Azad Kashmir and the NWFP to ensure uninterrupted supply of relief goods there.
The central points are located in Mansehra, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot and Bagh and all DCOs in the province have been directed to send the relief goods directly to them.
This was stated by Director-General Relief Irfan Elahi during a briefing to Revenue Minister Gul Hameed Rokhri here on Wednesday.
He said the Mansehra centre was headed by Brig Asghar Naseem and this had been linked with Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Sargodha, Bhakkar, Khushab and Mianwali.
The centre in Muzaffarabad was headed by Brig Ashraf Tabassum and it has been linked with Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan.
The centre in Rawalakot is headed by Brig Syed Tahir Raza Naqvi and it has been linked with Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Layyah and Muzaffargarh.
Brig Riaz Arshad is heading the centre in Bagh, which has been linked with Kasur, Okara, Sheikhupura, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Pakpattan, Sahiwal and Vehari.
Irfan Elahi said all DCOs had been given contact numbers of army officers in charge of the centres, also directing them to convey to the relief department’s emergency cell all details about the relief goods to be sent by them to the affected areas.
The minister asked the officials concerned to approach truck owners and transport associations to help people send relief goods to the affected areas without any problem. Details about trucks available with all government departments should also be collected so as to utilize them, if required, for the relief work, he said.
RELIEF CAMPS: The National Highways and Motorway Police (N-5) Central Zone has established relief camps for the earthquake victims in nine places of the province. These included Lines HQ in Nishtar Block; Allama Iqbal Town, Lahore; Thokar Niaz Beg, Lahore; Okara; Chichawatni; Khanewal Toll Plaza, SSP Office in Multan; Machi Goth; Khan Bela and Abbasia Chowk.
According to a press release, people from all walks of life are generously donating cash and kind. DIG N-5 Central Dr Wasim Kausar and other officials visited the Thokar Niaz Beg camp to motivate the staff and people to expedite efforts.
CARPET EXPORTERS’ RELIEF FUND: Meanwhile, major carpet exporters of Lahore have set up a Rs10 million Carpet Industry Relief Fund to help the earthquake victims in Azad Kashmir and the NWFP. Local exporters have contributed Rs4 million and the importers of Pakistani carpet to the USA donated $100,000 to the fund.
According to a spokesman of the industry, the first consignment of relief goods has already been dispatched to the affected areas while another consisting of tents, blankets and edible items would be sent on Thursday.
The fund would continue to receive donations from importers and exporters to provide the much-needed relief to the affected people.
