MARDAN, Oct 16: The district witnessed generous donations in cash and kind for the quake-affected people of the northern parts of the country. omen have been particularly active in the campaign to collect donations. Various camps have been set up where people are donating cash, food stuff, medicines, blankets, quilts, clothes, shoes, plastic roles, mineral water bottles, candles, matches, spades and pick axe worth millions of rupees for the quake victims.

Political parties, groups and even individuals were seen collecting goods and cash at camps set up for donating relief goods.

The camp set up by the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) was the most effective where volunteers collected various items worth Rs2 million and cash in the last seven days.

Mian Hassan Bacha, owner of the Srai Mian Sahib, provided space in front of his establishment for the NCHD camp.

An officer of the organization told Dawn that people donated generously.

He said that they opened their camp on Oct 9 and was to the day working. He said that they collected items worth Rs2 million and have send 20 trucks, pickups and Mazda trucks to Mansehra and Shangla districts and Muzzaffarabad in AJK, whereas more goods would be sent in a day or two.

Residents of Shamgunj, Mohallah Allahdadkhel Hoti and Par Hoti areas donated many truckloads of goods for the quack victims.

The Mardan Wolasy Jirga (MWJ) was also see active in collecting relief goods for the victims of the earthquake and had also set up a camp in the city.

The MWJ office-bearers criticized the attitude of the contractor of the toll plaza at the Nowshehra bridge who not only humiliated volunteers accompanying trucks carrying relief goods but also charged them toll tax. The government had suspended the tax till the end of October on goods meant for quake-victims.