Quake victims to get free electricity, phones for 3 months

ISLAMABAD—Minister for Water and Power Liaqat Jatoi Friday said the government will provide free of cost electricity to the earthquake affected areas for three months. Speaking in the National Assembly, he said the payment of electricity bill for the month of September has also been deferred till the complete rehabilitation of affected people.
The Minister said the devastated earthquake had badly affected the electricity network in the areas. The entire system was collapsed owing to destruction of infrastructure following the unprecedented earthquake in AJK and Hazara Division, he added.
Liaqat Jatoi informed the House that rehabilitation efforts were started and with utmost efforts of the wapda employees, the electricity has been restored to several areas including Abbottabad, Balakot, Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Rawalakot and Hajeera. He said the electricity supply to Neelam Jhelum Valley and Thakot will soon be restored.
The Minister said the earthquake in AJK and Hazara Division was fifth biggest disaster in the history adding, it was more devastated than the Tsunami. Appreciating the Opposition, he said they have set an example of national unity and solidarity. He also thanked all those countries which assisted the country in present difficult time. He proposed to adopt a unanimous resolution in recognition of assistance provided by these countries. The state-run Special Communications Organization (SCO), running the telecommunications system in AJK, has announced the facility of free NWD (nation-wide dialing) telephone calls for first three minutes for all the subscribers of SCO and other population in the recent earthquake stricken areas of Azad Jammu Kashmir, official sources said. The sources told APP here Thursday that Special Communications Organization (SCO) has installed 20 Thoriya Satellite Telephone Public Call Offices in the earthquake hit areas in AJK to enable the affected people to have quick access through telephone for the required areas in Pakistan and AJK.
The Special Communications Organization has also announced the relief package of Rs. 35 lakh for the immediate relief of the earthquake victims of AJK. Relief centers have been set upO by the SCO in this connection in Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot and Bagh.—APP