PESHAWAR, Jan 25: The NWFP government has decided to blacklist contractors, who had constructed sub-standard buildings in the earthquake-hit areas, causing death of hundreds of school children on Oct 8. Concluding a debate on quake-related problems and unjust allocation of funds in the annual budget, Senior Minister Sirajul Haq held the contractors responsible for the loss of life and destruction of property in five districts of the province. He said that 90 per cent of the government buildings razed to the ground on the tragic day were constructed by the corrupt contractors who had been using sub-standard material over the years.

Mr Haq said the provincial government had so far distributed over Rs9,318 million among the quake survivors staying in tent villages in upper parts of Hazara region and Shangla district. He said the provincial government had made a quick response to the tragic incident and used all available resources and services to control the post-quake problem of massive displacement.

He said though it was a big task but the government acted quickly and successfully. He said international financial bodies had also appreciated the dedication of the government staff dealing with the situation.

He said the elected representatives from the affected region, including women MPAs, would be given a representation on various committees dealing with the quake-hit activities. Their proposals would be made part of the future comprehensive policy on disaster management, the minister added.

He, however, rejected the criticism by the opposition and said every MPA had been given his due share in the development schemes identified in the annual development programme. Referring to the allocation of schemes, he said Mardan area had eight MPAs and the government had equally distributed 120 kms metalled road amongst all of them.

Rejecting the claim of Minister Abdul Akbar Khan of Pakistan People’s Party (Parliamentarians) rose into his seat and said the government didn’t give him even an inch out of 120 metalled road. A share of 15 kilometres had been granted to Naeema Kishwar of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Mr Akbar told the house.

Earlier, initiating debate on the failure of the government to overcome mismanagement of affairs in the quake-hit districts, MPA Riffat Swati informed the House that dozens of NGOs were ready to donate make-shift houses, but the affected people staying in the tent villages had not a piece of land to erect these houses. She asked the government to provide them (displaced families) land so that they could put make-shift houses on it.

She said the local landlords, who owned lands, had refused to grant any land, even to their former tenants, for the purpose. She asked the government to purchase land from the local khwaneen (landlords), because affected people could not live in tents. She asked the government to start sifting of the people staying in the tent villages, because some parasites were also misusing the facilities provided to the quake-survivors.

Opposition leaders Shahzada Gustasap Khan asked the government to conduct a seismic survey of the entire province and identify the villages and towns situated on faultlines. He also asked the government to hold an inquiry into the destruction of Rs160 million worth district hospital, Mansehra built by the government registered contractors some years ago.

The opposition leader demanded that the government should write off loans and utility bills of quake-survivors, because this august house had adopted a unanimous resolution on the issue. He said the government should offer an economic package to the people instead of making them beggars.

Farah Aqil Shah of the Awami National Party disclosed that the relief goods meant for the quake-victims were selling in the city markets. She claimed that a serving colonel had brought three truckloads of relief goods to his home.

Zubeda Khatoon and Aftab Shabbir of the MMA and Qalandar Lohdi of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) also spoke and advised the government to provide psychological counselling to the survivors as they had yet not come out of the shock.

The speaker adjourned the house till Thursday.