LAHORE, Oct 18: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has stressed complete coordination among government and civil society organizations to cope with the gigantic relief and rehabilitation after massive earthquake.

“We have to make sure that relief goods reach the victims and for this a coordination committee, comprising representatives of local governments, affected communities and civil society, should be set up to ensure that resources are not wasted,” HRCP chairperson Asma Jahangir told a news conference here on Tuesday.

She said there was no dearth of relief efforts and goods and they were also reaching the quake hit areas. Yet, reports that trucks were being plundered and the relief operation being run in an disorganized manner, were disturbing. Such a situation spoke highly of the lack of command which was essential at this crucial hour. No agency was capable to manage the huge task alone, she argued.

The HRCP chairperson was all praise for the exemplary character shown by the entire nation and said Pakistanis had demonstrated a rare example of nationhood.

“We have to turn this national affinity into a vigorous force by taking the people along in the process of rebuilding and for this a strong leadership is required,” she added.

Accompanied by top HRCP office-bearers and directors, Ms Jahangir said the whole relief work had also to be transparent in view of the past experience.

She wanted the government to keep the people abreast of the utilization of the funds and relief goods coming from abroad and within the country by issuing regular news bulletins, at least once a week, as a part of transparency in the relief operation.

She said the HRCP had taken upon itself to monitor the relief operation and would issue its report as and when the situation was ripe.

Ms Jahangir said the HRCP had been working in coordination with the Unicef for providing relief to women, children and the elderly people.

The Indian Drug Manufacturers Association had also donated medicines worth Rs2.5 million and the government should bring them from India for the quake victims, she added.

HRCP members and activists also gave their account of the quake-hit areas they visited recently. Their teams took relief goods to Mansehra, Muzaffarabad, Balakot, Batgram and Shinkiari. They also managed to reach Jagori and Sareen, the villages where the quake-hit people had received goods for the first time.