Govt focusing on relief, rehabilitation of quake affectees, says Soomro
By Asim Hussain

Islamabad—The earthquake has caused a colossal damage of life and property specially in Azad . Kashmir and NWFP and we all should work together to face the challenge of this national tragedy, he said this while talking to Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan. Chairman Senate said that Government is focusing on relief and rehabilitation of the earthquake affectees and would-provide maximum possible assistance to the affected people of Azad Kashmir and NWFP. Senators S. M. Zafar, Dr. Nighat Agha, Kamil Ali Agha, Mir Wali Muhammad Badini and Mrs. Tahira Latif and senior Pakistani doctors from United States M-. M. Arain and Muhammad Afzal were also present.
The Chairman and Senators expressed profound grief over the loss of life and property in Azad Kashmir with the AJK Prime Minister. Mr. Mohammedmian Soomro said that the earthquake has caused devastation in Azad Kashmir including Muzaffarabad and the people of Pakistan are fully behind with their Kashmir brethren to face this tragedy couragesly.
He informed the Prime Minister that as soon as he heard about the earthquake, he, in consultation with his colleagues in the Senate decided to set up a Relief Cell which in collaboration with a voluntary group arranged dispatch of tents, blankets, medicines, and food items worth crores of rupees. A team of doctors was also sent to the affected areas for providing medical treatment to the victims, he added. The Members of Association of Pakistani Physicians in North America offered to set up a 25 bed hospital in the AJK capital.
Mr. Mohammedmian Soomro further informed Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan said that every effort would be made for the provision of artificial limbs for the victims who lost their limbs in the quake. He also informed the Prime Minister that proposal of cargo housing for the affectees would be considered and Senate Relief Cell would try to arrange the same. Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan thanked the Chairman and the delegation for their visit and observed the visit has raised the morale of Kashmiris. Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan also lauded President General Pervez Musharraf’s commitment to turn this tragedy into an opportunity. He said President Musharraf has taken special measures for the socio economic development of Azad Kashmir and provided the needed funds to achieve this objective.
Sardar Sikandar Hayat welcomed the proposal of President Musharraf for allowing the people on both sides of LOC to enable them to help each other in this hour of trial. He also thanked people of Pakistan for their help to the people of Azad Kashmir with a missionary zeal.
Later, Chairman Senate and members of his delegations visited the relief camps, met the affectees and sought their requirements. A truck-load of medicines was also handed over to the medical camp in Muzaffarabad.