Forward Airbase established at Muzaffarabad

ISLAMABAD—Seeing the gravity of the situation caused by the devastating earth quake in the country, PAF has established a forward base at Muzaffarabad airfield to provide efficient relief support and material facilities to the effected people. This forward operational base is manned by PAF personnel under the Command of an Air Vice Marshal.
At this FOB, a drop zone has been created through which the relief goods, received from all over the country, are being airdropped by PAF transport aircraft. The goods are being air dropped through two methods. Firstly, small packets are being free dropped in the affected area and secondly, large pallets are dropped in drop zone through parachutes, from where these are collected by PAF personnel and are further distributed.
In order to provide medical assistance, a 50 bed field hospital has also been setup, equipped with adequate medical facilities and manned by trained staff consisting of six surgeons, six lady doctors and 36 paramedics. The field hospital will render services to the injured people whereas serious cases would be shifted to Islamabad for further treatment. Moreover, adequate arrangements have also been made for the patients at PAF Hospital Air Headquarters, Islamabad.
Besides these activities, a contingent of PAF Academy Risalpur comprising one hundred and fifty cadets and staff members has also camped at Government College Batgram to participate in relief activities for earth quack victims. Relief goods are also being collected at all air bases of PAF and despatched to Chaklala for onward dispatch to earth quack victims.
To co-ordinate all the relief operations of PAF, a Central Control Cell has been established at Chaklala which is headed by an Air Marshal.—PR