MANSEHRA, Oct 26 (APP): Prime Minister
Shaukat Aziz Tuesday said the government has started damage assessment
of the property destroyed by the Oct 8 earthquake and assured the reconstruction
and rehabilitation phase would soon start. Addressing a gathering here
at the Mansehra stadium to distribute compensation to the family members
who lost their loved ones, he said, "Money is no replacement for the
innocent lives lost, and is meant to mitigate the sufferings of the people
to some extent."
He said the federal government has handed
over the money to the NWFP for onward distribution amongst the families
of those who lost lives in the earthquake and said the provincial government
would ensure swift distribution of the money. He was highly appreciative
of the courageous people of NWFP and AJK who despite all the odds stood
to the challenge in the wake of the natural calamity. "The whole nation
today stands with you at this critical juncture. I am proud of Pakistani
people, who from across the country came forward with their money, donated
medicines, food and clothing and volunteered to work in the most inhospitable
conditions."
"This is a testing time for the entire nation and I am proud of the way they have stood united and together faced this difficult challenge," he added. He said the next phase of rehabilitation was a gigantic one and reiterated that the government would look after the survivors, particularly the orphans. "Our sympathies are with all those who lost their loved ones, but we will look after those who survived and ensure they lead a normal life." The Prime Minister was also appreciative of the quick response of the international community which rushed to Pakistan's aid.
"Around 70 per cent of the total assistance is from Muslim countries and we appreciate their gesture and will to help us in a difficult time," he added. Prime Minister Aziz said Search and Rescue teams, relief goods, NGOs, doctors and volunteers from around 70 countries are in Pakistan to help us meet this great calamity. Prime Minister Aziz, accompanied by Governor NWFP Khalilur Rehma, Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani and Ministers of Education, Javed Ashraf Qazi, Health Nasir Khan, Saudi Ambassador Aswad Al-Asseri handed over the compensation cheques of Rs 100,000 each. He directed the DCO to ensure that the people face no problem in encashing the cheques.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz later visited a field hospital run by Saudi Arabia, Italy and Switzerland and has treated thousands of injured from the nearby areas of Balakot, Batgram, Gari Habibullah and Muzaffarabad. Talking to reporters the Prime Minister said there was now an urgent demand to provide artificial limbs, wheel chairs and crutches to those whose limbs had to be amputated. "We have to help these people lead normal lives. It is a major challenge and we have a long way to go." He was highly appreciative of the assistance provided by the international community by providing the field hospitals, staff, medicine and their volunteers to help the injured.
"The world has shown that they stand by Pakistan and the people of Pakistan are indebted to all those who came to our help," he said and added "such attitude of caring and sharing can make the world a better place to live in." Prime Minister Aziz went around the different sections of the hospital set up in tents and provide facilities of x-ray, laboratory and surgeries. He said the doctors from three countries were playing a key role in helping the people get back to their normal lives. To a question about the death of a young girl child in a camp at Baisan, Prime Minister Aziz said the government has directed that no one should be allowed to alight fires in the tent villages as it could threaten the lives of people residing there.
He said the pilots of army aviation risked their lives to fly their helicopters in the middle of night to evacuate the two children who got burnt, when their tent caught fire. The children were rushed to Kharian CMH, but one of them could not survive. Prime Minister Aziz went around the tents where the injured were being kept. He enquired about their health and their families and sympathised with those who lost their close family members. The relatives of people admitted to the hospital were appreciative of the teams of doctors from Saudi Arabia, Italy and Switzerland and the local and foreign volunteers who were taking care of the injured.
Prime Minister handed over money to parents of some of the young children admitted. He enquired what the people were doing when the quake hit and how medical help reached them. Earlier the GOC Major General Shakeel briefed the Prime Minister about the relief operations. He said over 14,000 tents have been provided to the far off areas, the road to Alai and Gantar valley have been opened. For the road to Kawai, he said a new alignment of road from Paras to Kawai was being surveyed as the existing road has been extensively damaged. He said damage to property in Kohistan was around 30 per cent and relief goods and army teams have been despatched to Shangla and Kala daka. He said within his area, army jawans were deputed every 5-10 km to assist the locals.