QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani has said all government institutions are working on an emergency basis for rehabilitation of the earthquake-affected people of Harnai, adding that a massive rescue and relief operation is under way in the affected areas.

Officials of the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps, Provincial Disaster Mana­gement Authority (PDMA), the local administration and other institutions have reached quake-hit areas and are helping the affected people. “We are with the affected people in this hard time and will not leave them alone until their rehabilitation,” the chief minister said while speaking to reporters after visiting the earthquake-hit areas.

“The Chief Minister Cell, PDMA command and control centre are fully working,” he said, adding that the injured are being provided the best medical treatment.

The Provincial Disaster Mana­gement Authority has dispatched relief goods, tents, blankets and food items to the affected people. Army helicopters have also reached Harnai and shifted critically injured people to Quetta for treatment.

Says tents, blankets and food items being provided to affected people

Balochistan Governor Syed Zahoor Agha, Inspector General of FC Major General Yousaf Nadeem Majoka, provincial Minister Engineer Zamarak Khan Achakzai, members of Balochistan Assembly Naseebullah Marri, Laila Tareen and the chairman of Pakistan Red Crescent, Balochistan, Abdul Bari Barrech were present on the occasion.

CM Alyani said that PDMA offices and call centres had been set up at different places where losses can be reported.

He said that as soon as the situation became clear, the government machinery would be sent to affected areas for starting rehabilitation and reconstruction work.

Meanwhile, Jam Kamal Alyani, along with the FC inspector general, met the injured while taking rounds of the district hospital.

He went to the house where three children of a family lost their lives in the earthquake and condoled with the family.

“If the situation becomes more serious, we will seek the help of relief agencies,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2021