MUZAFFARABAD, Jan 22: The AJK government will provide land free of charge for construction of houses to the quake survivors, Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat announced here on Sunday. “For those who have lost their land in the devastating quake, I announce that the government will provide them land free of charge for construction of their houses,” he said at an “open kachehri” organised by Muni-cipal Corporation Muzaffarabad Administrator Zahid Amin.

The PM noted with pride that President Pervez Musharraf had appreciated the performance of the AJK government and other official and unofficial agencies engaged in relief work.

“I am grateful to President Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and army’s top brass for their support and concern for the quake-hit people.”

He told the audience that so far Rs10 billion had been distributed among the survivors.

Stating that despite internal and external crisis, the Pakistani rulers had not forgotten the quake-hit people, he said: “We will always remember these favours and share the problems of Pakistan.”

The AJK premier referred to the situation in Balochistan and Waziristan and opposition to the construction of water reservoirs by some provinces in Pakistan.

“When they (Islamabad) asked for Mangla dam’s raising, we did not utter even a faint cry. On the contrary, what is happening in Pakistan? The dams are to be built for Pakistan and not for any other country. Their opposition is the height of meanness.”

Mr Hayat asked the people to live as a nation of integrity and muster up the courage to rebuild their lives as the AJK and Pakistan governments and the army were behind them in this regard.

Of the mountain people, he said they should go back to their villages and rebuild their houses for which the government would provide money, iron sheets and technical advice.

“They will not be allowed to stay here (in camps) after April 1, and if they did not leave the government will have to treat them harshly.”

About the reconstruction in urban areas, the PM said it depended upon the announcement of Turkish team’s seismic report.

“But it’s my advice, suggestion and direction to the people of Muzaffarabad to let their town be rebuilt as a modern and properly planned city,” he said, adding that the government would compensate and provide alternate land to the people whose structures would be razed to widen roads and streets.

At the same time, he said, actual rehabilitation was not reconstruction of houses but revival of economic activities.

The PM also announced Rs1 million for the civic body to help it carry out removal of debris and garbage from the town. Apart from it, he also announced Rs300,000 at the disposal of the administrator for distribution among the needy from middle class.

Earlier, Chief Secretary Kashif Murtaza said the civil administration had rendered remarkable job during relief and rescue operation, though the civilian officials were themselves among the worst victims of the quake.

He said the Turkish team’s report, comprising 1,200 pages, would be made public on Wednesday, following which the government would be able to take decisions on reconstruction or relocation of the affected settlements.

He said the government had selected sites for dumping of debris so that it should not pose any threat to the environment.

The government was also working on training of masons, carpenters, plumbers, electricians and other skilled men in earthquake resistant constructions, he said. So far, over 1,000 masons had been trained in this regard, apart from the public works department officials, he added.

The chief secretary also said the government had planned to set up bulk depots of raw material for construction at the union council level to meet the needs of survivors of the area at cost.

A comprehensive plan, he said, had also been chalked out for revival of educational and healthcare institutions and would be implemented as soon as the pledged money would start pouring in.

Mr Murtaza expressed gratitude for the Japanese government for donating 10 bulldozers and 10 excavators of Rs350 million to the AJK.

Later, he assisted the PM in answering questions from the audience on different relevant issues.

AJK Minister for Agriculture Noreen Arif, MLA from Muzaffarabad Ghulam Murtaza Gillani and other senior officials attended the function.