ABBOTTABAD, Oct 23: NWFP health secretary Abdul Samad has directed the administration of the Ayub Medical Complex Hospital to take steps to run the hospital in a normal manner.

He issued the directive on Saturday after a detailed visit of the complex and declaring it safe. Following this directive, the AMC administration has started cleaning the wards to make it functional.

Earlier, a three-member committee, headed by NWFP chief engineer Tariq Saeed, had visited the complex and submitted a report declaring 95 per cent of the structure safe. The report said a little damage was done to the top floor which was reparable.

The report further stated that the AMC building was the only earthquake-proof building in the NWFP and its main structure and foundation were in good condition.

After Oct 8 earthquake the hospital was vacated and temporary arrangement was made in the lawns.

However, later, some sections were made operational, but again due to aftershocks the building was vacated and the hospital capacity was reduced from 1,200 bed to only 200 bed. Later, a field hospital was established in the AMC lawns and all patients were shifted to other hospitals.

RELIEF WORK: Abbottabad district nazim Sardar Haider Zaman, presiding over the first meeting of heads of all government departments here, said that a sum of Rs50.5 million would be distributed among the quake-hit people.

The earthquake killed 465 people and injured 477 in Abbottabad. Data is being collected to determine the magnitude of damage to property.

Mr Zaman said that funds had been received from the provincial government for distribution among legal heirs of the victims. He directed the concerned officials to make early payments to the affected people in a transparent manner.

He also directed the executing agencies to accelerate work on erecting a 1000-tent village in the city for the people homeless people.