PESHAWAR, Nov 26: Earthquake victims have requested the government to write off their bank loans and extend more loans on soft terms so that they could resume their businesses. Addressing a news conference here on Saturday, Jehanzeb Khan, coordinator of the Battal earthquake victims, said the Oct 8 quake had killed 31,151 persons and injured 41,031 in Hazara region alone.

According to him, the natural-calamity had displaced 500,000 persons, apart from damaging as many shops and houses.

He said the earthquake had devastated an area of 21,000 kilometres and damaged 85 per cent of standing crops, depriving people of meals.

In these circumstances, he said, it was the responsibility of the government to extend generous financial assistance to the survivors.

Mr Khan said the government should extend loans for 1.2 per cent mark up, payable within 15 years, to shopkeepers, hotel and mill-owners, livestock, tourism and construction sectors.

He also suggested that the five calamity-hit districts of Mansehra, Battagram, Kohistan, Shangla and Abbottabad be declared tax-free areas for 15 years to give boost to the industrial sector there.

Mr Khan expressed concern over the non-representation of the affected people in the relief body constituted by the government and asked the government to give representation to the victims in the Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (ERRA), so they could present their problems effectively.