MUZAFFARABAD, April 15: The AJK minister for forest has lauded the role of the Pakistani nation, government and NGOs in providing relief to the victims of last year’s earthquake, but also stressed the need of an institution to cope with a natural disaster.

Speaking at a workshop held here on Saturday, the minister, Mufti Mansoor Rahman, said that the major problem faced by the people after the earthquake was lack of medical facilities in the quake-hit areas.

He said that the earthquake destroyed the Combined Military Hospital in Muzaffarabad, leaving no medical facility in the area to treat seriously injured people.

“Later, doctors from Pakistan and abroad did a marvellous job of providing succour to those hit by the natural calamity for which we are thankful to them,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Suraya Sultana said: “We have decided to establish a health centre in Chatar village in Bagh district for provision of health facilities to the people.” —-Online