NSC devises strategy to pace up relief efforts
Allocates Rs2bn to AJK, 1bn to NWFP
By Makhdoom Babar

ISLAMABAD—An extra-ordinary meeting of the National Security Council with a single-point agenda Wednesday assessed the scale of devastation and reviewed the relief efforts in the aftermath of last Saturday’s deadly earthquake, with the Government directing immediate release of Rs two billion for Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Rs one billion for NWFP as interim relief measure.
The meeting, convened and chaired by President General Pervez Musharraf, also examined the pace of the ongoing relief operations and steps needed for undertaking the large-scale rebuilding and rehabilitation of the devastated people. At the outset, the participants of the meeting offered Fateha for the departed souls of the victims and prayed to Allah Almighty to grant of courage to the bereaved families to bear this great loss.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and members of the Council including Chief Minister of NWFP. The President and the Prime Minister of Azad and Jammu and Kashmir attended the meeting on special invitation.
President Musharraf welcomed the Chief Minister of NWFP Akram Durrani to the meeting and said that his participation was a correct decision.
The President, in his opening remarks, underlined that besides ongoing relief activities, rehabilitation of the victims and reconstruction of the infrastructure should be carried out in such a way that in future the areas incur minimum losses in the face of such calamities. He appreciated the spirit of the nation and the manner in which the people had responded to the natural disaster.
“The people of Pakistan have shown remarkable unity, solidarity and spirit in staging a collective and concerted response to the massive tragedy as they have contributed generously to relief operations and also volunteered to supplement the government’s efforts,” he said.
The meeting agreed that a separate dedicated organization needs to be set up to oversee rehabilitation of the affected areas on modern lines, incorporating new technologies so that in addition to rehabilitation of the people, they are also enabled to stand up on their feet.
Responding to the request of the Chief Minister NWFP, the President instructed that prompt rescue and relief goods be airdropped to the pinpointed areas in a matter of few hours. All national sources are being put into use to fulfill the mammoth task of rescue and relief of the affected people, he said.
The AJK Prime Minister and NWFP Chief Minister briefed the participants about the scale of damage in the affected areas. They thanked the Government and the Armed Forces for their immediate response to the calamity-stricken areas.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the international community has moved quickly to extend assistance to Pakistan and so far the country has been pledged US $ 360 million for relief efforts.
At the request of President and Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir and Chief Minister of the NWFP, the Prime Minister directed immediate release of Rs two billion for Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Rs one billion for the NWFP, as an interim relief measure.
The participants of the meeting were also briefed about the task and planning of the Federal Relief Commission, which has been tasked to coordinate and relief operations with all national agencies, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and aid coming from foreign countries.
Federal Relief Commissioner Major General Farooq Ahmed Khan outlined the short and long-term strategies for relief and rehabilitation operations. The short-term strategy includes stepping up relief operations, establishing relief camps, epidemic control, supplementing and enhancing capacity to keep the existing infrastructure intact and operative, life support measures and restoration of roads and communication link in the quake-hit areas.
The long-term steps include stepping up relief operations, establishing relief camps, epidemic control, supplementing and enhancing capacity to keep the existing infrastructure intact and operative , life support measures and restoration of roads, communication link in the quake-hit areas.
He apprised the participants that roads from Mansehra to Balakot, Mansehara to Muzaffarabad and Murree to Muzarrafabad, which had been blocked as a result of landslides caused by the earthquake, have been reopened for all kinds of traffic.
He said that efforts were underway to reopen the Karakoram Highway which had been blocked at various places due to landslides. He said that much of the road infrastructure would reopen within the next seven to ten days.
The long-term steps will include restoration of civic amenities, rehabilitation of civil administration structure, reassessment of all related aspects, measures for return of normalcy to life and society.
The participants were of the view that the tragedy has underscored the usefulness of the NSC as a forum where civil, military and political leadership can coordinate their response to such national catastrophe.
Online adds: National Security Council (NSC) has approved a comprehensive plan for the rehabilitation of earthquake victims in affected areas under which the federal government will provide assistance of Rs 2 billion to AJK government and Rs one billion to NWFP government.
The NSC met here Wednesday in its secretariat under President General Pervez Musharraf. Besides Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, chairman senate Mohammedmian Soomro, speaker national assembly, Chaudhry Amir Hussain, chief ministers of NWFP, Balochistan and Sindh, forces chiefs and chairman Joint Chiefs of staff committee participated in the meeting.
AJK President, Sardar Anwar and Prime Minister Sardar Sikanadar Hayat, four governors, vice chief of army staff and flood relief commissioner attended the meeting on special invitation.
NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani participated in the meeting for the first time.
Addressing the meeting, the president said October, 8 tragedy was a catastrophe and we have to work jointly to face this situation. “We should help our earthquake stricken brothers by setting aside all our political and other differences. They have been rendered shelterless and their near and dear ones are no more in the world”, he added.
It is a good omen that the whole nation has united in the hour of grief and crisis and is assisting their brethren marooned in the earthquake hit areas wholeheartedly, he underlined.
He maintained that international community immediately responded to our call and many precious lives were saved with their assistance.
He called for formulating a solid and workable policy to face such calamities as the loss caused by this earthquake is colossal. “I have visited Muzaffarabad, Rawlakot, Bagh, Abbottabad, Mansehra and Balakot. Million of people have been left homeless. Over 23 thousand people have been killed and over 50 thousand injured there”, he added.
Government is focusing fully on the rehabilitation of these people, he noted. Two division army is engaged in relief operations in the affected areas, he added. The relief goods being dispatched by Pakistanis are also being distributed among affectees, he told. Helicopters are also being used in this connection, he added. Several countries including US have sent helicopters and they are assisting in relief operation, he indicated.
President directed the respective departments to complete rehabilitation work on top priority basis and provide the best healthcare facilities to the injured. Provincial governments should play their role in this regard, he stressed.
President announced assistance of one billion rupees for NWFP and two billion rupees for AJK. Rs 500 million have already been released to NWFP government. One billion rupees will be in addition to them.
Federal government will construct and provide a new house in place of razed house in NWFP and AJK, he told. New cities will also be constructed and federal government will extend all resources, he announced.
Welcoming the aid from donor agencies, President said we will seek their cooperation in rehabilitation process.
President was told that former US president Bill Clinton company has offered to construct ten houses in a day, therefore, this company should be contacted.
President directed the concerned departments to assess the overall loss, ensure burial of those killed in line with Islamic norms besides providing immediate medical aid to the injured people.
The meeting was informed that Pakistani nation and foreign institutions have deposited eatables, tents, blankets and other goods in large quantity and management problem has arisen. The transportation of these goods is being ensured and services of transporters have been hired.
Meeting was told that Pakistani expatriates have also contributed generously to the assistance of affectees.
President directed the concerned quarters to work out mid term and long term plans for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of affected areas. Every one be compensated according to one share of loss, he added.