President stresses fast track rehabilitation drive
Says 500,000 affectees to be sheltered in tent-city - Body set up to initiate re-building of quake-hit areas
By Makhdoom Babar

ISLAMABAD—President General Pervez Musharraf Saturday said a tent city is being put into place near Muzaffarabad to provide shelter to 500,000 people rendered homeless following last week’s devastating earthquake.
The Government is setting up the tent city with the support of United Nations, he said in comprehensive interaction with a group of media persons, who covered the catastrophe in Azad Kashmir and NWFP.
The President said the interaction would be helpful in assessing the situation on the basis of first-hand feedback from the newsmen.
Vowing to strive for converting this disaster into improvement for the affectees in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and NWFP, the President assured that the Government would utilize all national resources to carry out the challenging task of rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Azad Kashmir and NWFP were the two worst-afflicted areas in last Saturday’s staggering earthquake, which has claimed over 38,000 lives, affected millions of people and played havoc with infrastructure over a vast swathe of the mountainous region.
President Musharraf said he has been in touch with world leaders, stating that several countries of the world have assured him of their support and solidarity in the hour of difficulty.
The President said he would regularly visit Azad Jammu and Kashmir to have first-hand assessment of the scale of damage.
He said army headquarters in the affected areas have been instructed to carry out relief activities in consort with Federal Relief Commission. Replying to a question, the President said the Disaster Relief Cell would have services of volunteers to listen to the grievances of the affected people and help them overcome their immediate problems.
He said medical college students would also render voluntary services at the field hospitals set up at several places in the quake-afflicted areas.
In reply to a question, the President said he has followed the coverage of the tragedy in the media, saying he welcomes their constructive comments on any weaknesses in the Government’s efforts in meeting the colossal challenge.
APP adds: President General Pervez Musharraf Saturday said Pakistan requires massive financial assistance from the international community in carrying out rehabilitation and reconstruction in the earthquake-afflicted areas. “We require colossal finances for reconstruction efforts, we need international assistance, we also need assistance in the form of pre-fabricated houses, schools, colleges, hospitals so that we can erect them quickly and bring life back to normal,” he told newsmen at Chaklala Airbase after attending a marathon review of the relief activities. However, the President said, the country has not yet calculated the exact amount of financial assistance it would require in the mammoth task of rebuilding widespread damage in an area, that sprawls over 20,000 sq kms. President Musharraf said the earthquake has claimed over 38000 lives, adding that the figure may rise. He informed the media that a comprehensive initiative, to be known as President’s Rehabilitation Initiative (PRI) is being launched to rebuild damaged infrastructure, including roads, bridges, houses, government buildings, schools and private buildings.
The PRI will oversee the completion of the task through an Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (ERRA). “This authority will undertake the whole exercise of evaluating the size of reconstruction work, expenditure and time frame and come with proposals”. The President said, the authority will complete this task on fast-track basis. President Musharraf said the Government is continuing with rescue operations to pull survivors out of rubble. “We are continuing rescue efforts and also carrying out relief operations”. Replying to a question, he said half of the roads in badly-hit Jehlum and Neelum valleys are still closed, making access for rescuers to all areas difficult.
“Pakistan Army engineers have been working day and night to reopen the damaged roads — we are striving for reopening them at the earliest,” he said informing that the relief commission is examining satellite imagery and video footage by the PAF aircraft to find out ways to access the cut-off areas. He said six forward operation bases have been established in Mansehra, Batgram, Balakot areas of NWFP and Muzaffarabad, Bagh and Rawalakot of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and now helicopter sorties will reach out to affected people marooned in difficult terrains. He said stocks of relief goods have been provided at the forward bases for onward supply to the far-flung areas.
However, the President said there is a need for tents and blankets as winter is setting in. President Musharraf said in view of air traffic at Chaklala base it has been decided to make use of Dhamiyal Airbase, which is in near vicinity. Earlier, the President attended a brief about operations at the Chaklala Airbase, which has been serving as the main logistic base for rescue and relief operations, since October 8 earthquake. The President was informed that all foreign assistance flowing into the country is received at the base, sorted out and transported by air and road to the quake-stricken areas. The facilities at the air base are working under Pakistan Armed Forces. Director General, Logistics branch of Pakistan Army briefed the President about the logistics activity. The President expressed satisfaction at the round-the-clock operations by Pakistan Air Force, Army Aviation and Logistics Branch of Pakistan Army at the airbase. He commended efforts being put in by all the services in the trying time for the nation.
On arrival at the airbase, the President was received by Vice Chief of the Army Staff Ahsan Saleem Hyat and Air Marshal Arif. President Musharraf said in view of air traffic at Chaklala base it has been decided to make use of Dhamiyal Airbase, which is in near vicinity. Earlier, the President attended a briefing about operations at the Chaklala Airbase, which has been serving as the main logistic base for rescue and relief operations, since October 8 earthquake. The President was informed that all foreign assistance flowing into the country is received at the base, sorted out and transported by air and road to the quake-stricken areas. The facilities at the air base are working under Pakistan Armed Forces. Director General, Logistics branch of Pakistan Army briefed the President about the logistics activity. The President expressed satisfaction at the round-the-clock operations by Pakistan Air Force, Army Aviation and Logistics Branch of Pakistan Army at the airbase. He commended efforts being put in by all the services in the trying time for the nation. On arrival at the airbase, the President was received by Vice Chief of the Army Staff Ahsan Saleem Hyat and Air Marshal Arif.