PESHAWAR, Oct 18: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has said that almost Rs32 billion are required to overcome the losses caused by the earthquake of Oct 8. “We want the destroyed towns to prosper again,” he said at public gatherings after having an aerial view of the affected areas, including Bisham, Shangla, Battagram and Allai.

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Maulana Fazlur Rehman, provincial Minister Ayaz Khan, MPA Shah Hussain and Maulana Idrees of Ummah Welfare Trust also spoke.

Maulana Rehman offered prayer for eternal peace to the departed souls, recovery of injured people and early rehabilitation of the victims.

The chief minister said the provincial government was doing its utmost for rehabilitation of the victims in its limited resources. “We have appealed to the federal government, philanthropists and other friends to donate for the victims’ rehabilitation. People are generously donating to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund,” he maintained.

He said almost Rs3 billion would be required to compensate the families of the victims. “The provincial government will not leave the affected people on their own,” he said.

He directed the officials concerned to concentrate on opening the roads so that people in remote areas could get relief goods.

Meanwhile, Provincial Senior Minister Sirajul Haq has appealed to the nation, the federal govt and the international community to continue helping generously the people affected by the earthquake of Oct 8, saying that stringent relief measures were required because of the devastation, Our Correspondent adds.

Talking to journalists at Bisham after visiting the affected areas in Shangla and Kohistan districts on Monday, he said the earthquake had caused more damage than last year’s tsunami.

He said there were bodies in towns and villages while the injured and homeless had to live in open along the roads as almost all the buildings in some areas had been destroyed or damaged.

He said tents were needed to provide shelter to the victims from cold and hailstorms.

He said the government was facing problems in removing rubble of damaged buildings because of lack of modern heavy machinery.

He said the work for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction was a challenge for the government and consistent efforts on a large scale were required in this regard.

Speaking to the affected people, the minister said the government would not rest until their permanent rehabilitation.

The nation had demonstrated an exemplary spirit of love and brotherhood by helping the victims, he said.

“Thousands of volunteers have come from the tribal belt and other areas to provide succour to their brethren in trouble,” he maintained.

MNA Maulana Fazal Subhan and other leaders of the Jamaat-i-Islami accompanied the minister.