RAWALPINDI, Nov 21: The government on Monday increased the compensation amount for earthquake-ravaged NWFP and Azad Jammu and Kashmir from Rs20 billion to Rs80 billion. The decision to this effect was taken on the recommendations of NWFP Chief Minister Akram Durrani and Prime Minister of AJK Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan in a meeting of the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) and the Federal Relief Commission.

The meeting was chaired by President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

The meeting was convened as a follow-up to the donors’ conference held in Islamabad and which succeeded in raising pledges for donations.

It discussed revival of income opportunities, creation of industry and ways of improving the life of people in the quake-hit areas, “which ultimately would lead to conversion of this challenge into an opportunity”.

The meeting decided that a sum of Rs125,000 would be given to each affected house in the NWFP and AJK. The amount would be in addition to the already announced Rs25,000 being given to each affected house.

An additional amount of Rs25,000 would be paid as an incentive to those adopting quake-resistant standards in house building as laid down by the government, the meeting decided. Thus every affected house will ultimately get Rs175,000.

Matters relating to detailed follow-up action for the realization of pledges and maintaining a database were also discussed.

President Musharraf said the data would be placed on the website and would be available to all for study and follow-up.

As regards sponsorship programmes, the data would be maintained on the website of ERRA. It would enable donors and sponsors to track their donations right up to the user level.

The meeting decided that all this data-basing, administrative and organizational aspects would be completed during the lean period of winters “so that reconstruction can commence in top gear in the coming spring and the affected people settle down before the onset of next winter”.

President Musharraf directed quick disbursement of money and asked the NWFP and AJK governments to help the affected people in the outlying areas in the construction of their houses for which the National Voluntary Movement programme was being launched.

The president expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the donors’ conference, saying the pledges made by the world community showed its trust and confidence in the government of Pakistan.

Brushing aside criticism by certain quarters, the president said that “actions speak louder than words” and that the results of the donors’ moot were its clear manifestation. —APP