ISLAMABAD, Nov 1: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday reassured the nation of transparent and judicious spending of national and international aid pouring in for earthquake victims and proposed a parliamentary group of all political parties under his chairmanship to streamline the relief operation.

Winding up the debate on the Oct 8 disaster in the National Assembly, the prime minister dismissed misgivings about participation of Nato troops in relief operations.

Pakistan, he said, had a prestigious position in the comity of nations. The country would never compromise on its security and honour, he said, adding that Nato’s around 1,000 troops engaged in humanitarian assistance operations were no threat to the country.

Earlier, the house witnessed a brawl between Law Minister Wasi Zafar and PPP-Parliamentarians lawmakers. The opposition, without the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, staged a walkout from the house after the speaker allegedly backed out of his promise to give time to PPP’s Raja Parvaiz Ashraf and instead allowed the prime minister to speak.

As the PPP lawmakers rose to protest the speaker’s attitude, the law minister taunted them and called them names infuriating them into launching a counterattack on the minister. Later, the PPP members walked out of the house.

The house adopted a joint resolution moved by Asyia Azeem of the Pakistan Muslim League, seeking compulsory rescue training for the studying youth with 10 marks to each one passing the training course. It also called for revival and strengthening of the civil defence organization to enable it to meet national disasters.

Mr Aziz reiterated the government’s resolve not to allow adoption of those children who had lost their parents in the earthquake. He said centres were being set up to accommodate all such children and provide them with education and training in congenial atmosphere. Arrangements have also been made to provide artificial limbs to those whose body parts were imputed and three facilities would be set up for the purpose, he added.

Responding to the opposition’s criticism, he said the government was ready to take the opposition along and address their reservations, if any, about the handling of relief and rehabilitation operations.

He informed the house that the nation had donated Rs5 billion to the President’s Relief Fund whereas the country had received from the international community donations/grants and pledges to the tune of $2 billion.

The government, he said, had started payment of Rs100,000 compensation to the heirs of each dead and was also paying for the injured. Besides, he pointed out, it had been decided to provide Rs25,000 along with corrugated galvanized iron sheets to the owner of each damaged house for reconstructing their houses.

He also mentioned setting up of two bodies for carrying out relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction activities.

He said sufficient funds had been released to hospitals to ensure provision of adequate healthcare facilities to victims.

A calling-attention sought to be moved by Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, Zamarud Khan and Haroon Qaiser about the smuggling of substandard medicines to the country was deferred owing to lack of information with the interior ministry.

Later, the speaker prorogued the house which would now meet on Nov 7.