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LAHORE, March 31: Only the front portion of the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) eight-storey building on Temple Road will be demolished.
The agency’s building had badly been damaged when two suicide bombers had run a mini-truck loaded with a huge quantity of explosives into it on March 11.
FIA Director-General Tariq Pervaiz told Dawn on Monday that the Public Works Department after a survey had proposed the demolition of building’s front portion and the repair of its rear. He said some staff would start working at the rear portion once the repair work was completed.
The agency had urged federal and provincial governments to provide a building where it could house its offices till the completion of its new building on the Temple Road by June, he said.
REPORT SUBMITTED: Caretaker Chief Minister Ejaz Nisar said on Monday financial assistance will be given to the families of the victims and others affected by suicide attacks on FIA building and other places, and the committee set up to evaluate the losses had submitted its report in this regard.
Presiding over a meeting held at Chief Minister’s Secretariat to discuss provision of relief to the affectees of suicide attacks, he said Chief Secretary Javed Mahmood would review the report, and the final decision would be taken in the next meeting.
Provincial Minister for Education and Minorities Affairs Mira Phailbus, the chief secretary, Finance Secretary Sohail Ahmad, Relief and Disaster Management Secretary Brig Ghazanfar Ali and Lahore DCO Mian Ejaz were also present. The chief minister hoped the province would benefit from the administrative abilities of the new chief secretary.
He said the departments concerned were playing an active role to check the terrorist attacks and improve law and order in the province.
He said the suicide attacks were being investigated on scientific lines and a conclusion would soon be reached and the elements involved in destroying civic peace would be taken to task.
The chief minister ordered that all out measures be taken for the construction, repair and safety of the school buildings surrounding FIA headquarters.
Mira Phailbus said people and the school children showed courage and steadfastness in the wake of the suicide attack on the FIA building and academic activities had resumed in the educational institutions. She said the missionary school and minority leadership were thankful to the chief minister for his timely visit to the area and the orders given for the provision of relief to the affectees.
