LAHORE, Oct 14: Law Minister Basharat Raja said on Friday that the provincial government had so far sent 1,000 truckloads of relief goods to Azad Kashmir and the NWFP in addition to the items being sent by DCOs of 34 districts, government organizations, NGOs, political parties and other people.

He announced that disbursement of Rs20,000 compensation for the repair of each house damaged in the Punjab would begin from Saturday.

Speaking at a news conference here at the Civil Secretariat, the minister said there was no shortage of goods in the province and the increased demand was being met successfully.

Communications Minister Chaudhry Zaheeruddin was also present at the press conference. The ministers earlier presided over a meeting which was attended by senior officials, including Chief Secretary Salman Siddique, to review efforts being made to provide relief to the earthquake victims.

Raja said the 1000 trucks had carried eatables, tents, blankets, medicines, water and shrouds for burying the dead. The chief minister, he said, had already given Rs50 million each to the NWFP and Azad Kashmir besides contributing Rs100 million to the president’s relief fund.

He said five medical teams were providing medical assistance to victims in the NWFP and Azad Kashmir in make-shift hospitals having proper operation theatre facilities. The volume of medical facilities was increasing with the improvement of infrastructure in the affected areas.

The minister said four major and four make-shift hospitals in Rawalpindi were extending medical cover to wounded. Such patients were also being accommodated in Attock, Jhelum and Lahore in view of the increase in their number. “We have made all arrangements to treat patients even in Lahore,” he said.

He said a huge tent village was being established in Rawalpindi to give shelter to the displaced and those who did not require further medical assistance in hospitals. The village comprising 1,000 tents would be ready in two days, having all facilities like dispensary, water, toilets, kitchen for food, blankets and mattresses.

The minister said the Punjab government was carrying out relief measures in a close liaison with the NWFP and Azad Kashmir governments, sending goods which they wanted. First they had asked for food, blankets, medicines and tents and now they were demanding utensils, stoves, match boxes and beds for patients.

He said the provincial government had deputed a secretary to serve as a liaison officer who would liaise with the Azad Kashmir and the NWFP governments with regard to their needs. “We have already met all demands by the affected and the federal governments,” he said.

The minister said the provincial assembly members and all ministers, advisers and special assistants too had announced one-month salary for the welfare of the affected people.

He said the provincial government would start giving Rs20,000 for the repair of each house damaged in the province in the earthquake. There were 14,000 such houses mainly located in Murree and Kotli Sattian.

The minister said the government had taken a serious notice of newspaper reports about overcharging by shopkeepers and directed the administration to immediately control the menace. Replying to questions, the minister said the government had so far sent 600 policemen and 40 traffic personnel to Azad Kashmir on its request. Wireless and other equipment of police too had been sent there.

He asked all private organizations and people facing problems in hiring trucks to hand over their consignments to the DCOs or send them to the provincial government’s central office in Rawalpindi. The DCOs and the centre would transport the donations to the affected areas, he said.

MEALS: The Punjab Relief Commission decided on Friday to provide ready-to-eat meals to those affected by earthquake.

This was stated by Director-General Relief Irfan Elahi during a briefing to Relief Minister Gul Hameed Rokhri.

He said arrangements were being made to cook meals in relief camps at both the places. Cooks and utensils for the purpose were being sent there from Punjab.

He said the government had so far sent adequate relief goods to the affected areas.

LABOUR PARTY: The Labour Party Pakistan has so far sent relief goods worth Rs 2 million to the affected areas, says an announcement.