PESHAWAR, Dec 12: The October 8 earthquake caused damage amounting to Rs9.14 billion in the five quake-hit districts of the NWFP, the Senate functional committee on less developed areas was informed on Monday.

The Senate’s committee met here under the chairmanship of Senator Sher Muhammad Abbasi. The meeting was attended by Senator Engineer Rashid Ahmed Khan, Senator Sanaullah Baluch, Senator Muhammad Aslam Buledi, Senator Amanullah Kamrani and officials of federal and provincial governments.

The meeting was also informed that compensation worth Rs6.14 billion had so far been paid to the heirs of 21,000 deceased and 150,000 injured. The provincial government had taken over the administrative control of the four tent villages, while the remaining 12 would come under the control of the provincial administration by the end of January 2006.

Additional Chief Secretary NWFP Mir Laiq Shah apprised the Senate committee about the reconstruction and rehabilitation strategy adopted by the provincial government.

He also briefed senators about the less developed areas of the province and ongoing and new development schemes.

The meeting stressed on the timely provision of funds for development schemes besides preparing comprehensive social and economic indicators to review basic needs of these areas.—APP