ISLAMABAD, Feb 6 (APP): Prime Minister
Shaukat Aziz appreciating the role of both national and international
volunteers in providing help and assistance after October 8 earthquake,
said that United Nations should have a Permanent Standing Fund for
disaster relief management. Addressing the launching ceremony of
Volunteers Scheme of United Nations here at a local hotel, the Prime
Minister acknowledged the role of international organizations including
UN played in the quake hit areas.
He said Pakistan got tremendous support
and help across the country and from many NGOs throughout the world
in the rescue, relief and rehabilitation work following the devastated
October 8 earthquake. While appreciating the support of UN and its
allied agencies to help the affected people in the quake hit
areas, the Prime Minister took exception to the forecast of spreading
epidemics by the UN. The Prime Minister said due to timely relief
and rescue operations by the government of Pakistan with the
help of many international organizations, there was no case of epidemic
in the quake affected areas. Shaukat Aziz said the government will take
steps to channelize voluntarism and streamline human resource capacity
in the country.
Appreciating the role of volunteers in the relief operation for the quake survivors in the earthquake affected areas of NWFP and AJK, the Prime Minister said they have done a remarkable job for humanity. The Prime Minister said the voluntarism must be channelized in order to have professionals and organized ways to work for humanity in the country. He said several people lost their lives and huge devastation was witnessed due to October 8 earthquake, however due to effective planning of government and quick response of volunteers, every possible help was provided to the survivors. Shaukat Aziz said despite limited resources soon after earthquake the government established medical camps in the affected areas for medical aid and provided the survivors tents and other basic needs of life.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan Army helicopters remained busy to evacuate the injured persons from the earthquake affected areas. He said overseas Pakistanis living in various countries also actively participated in relief efforts and collected donations for the help of quake survivors. Shaukat Aziz said the government has prepared a comprehensive rehabilitation and reconstruction plan of the affected areas. He said government has planed to create income generation opportunities for the affected people. He said government will also build low-cost earthquake friendly houses in the affected areas besides giving them small loans. He said voluntarism is a force in any society and the volunteers could contribute a lot in case of any emergency in an organized way. Shaukat Aziz said there was only need to motivate the people regarding voluntarism.
The Prime Minister said handling of trauma patients is also important and government had been taking adequate measures in this regard. Chairman, National Volunteer Movement Muhammad Ali Durrani said President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz provided full strengthen to the voluntarism in the country after October 8 earthquake. He said the government will fully support in the launching of the National United Nations Volunteers scheme in Pakistan. Chairman National Volunteer Movement Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani speaking on the occasion said Pakistan has recently endured an agonizing tragedy in the form of devastating earthquake which rocked the country on October 8.
He said although the earthquake left in its wake devastation at an un-precedented scale and a chain of human miseries, however it also provide a chance to realize the magnitude and enormity of volunteer potential that the Pakistani nation possesses. Durrani said the tragedy which provided the nation with an opportunity to tap the hidden un-harnessed inertia of volunteerism. Appreciating the visionary leadership of President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, he said, these leaders not only provided the needed strength and encouragement to the nation in this hour of trial but also provided a platform to channelize the national spirit and potential for the development of nation. He said the vision of these leaders, resulted in the establishment of National Volunteer Movement. He said the encouraging response from United Nations to NVM provided a chance to organise it effectively.
Senator Durrani said UNDP Pakistan also offered the support of their good offices in tasks relating to the establishment and strengthening the organizational capacity of NVM. Appreciating the launching of UNV program, he said, it will prove to be a great move forward in organizing a competent and dedicated core of volunteers whose potential will greatly support and facilitate the process of rehabilitation and reconstruction in the earthquake-affected areas. He suggested to unite all the stake-holders and devise a joint strategy and a plan of action to introduce more effectiveness in the work of volunteerism. United Nations Resident Coordinator Jan Vendermoortele and Country Director UNDP Haoliang Xu also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the importance of UN Volunteers Programme. They also explained the contribution of the UN in the relief and rehabilitation efforts in the quake-hit areas of AJK and NWFP.