Premier pledges ‘Tent Villages’ before winter
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz reiterated the determination to ensure accomplishment of relief and restoration along with establishment of tent villages prior to the arrival of winter in the calamity stricken areas. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz further said that fiberglass and sheet-made houses would be provided to affectees. Prime Minister expressed these views during a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi called on him here on Monday. Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi also briefed PM on the development of restoration and reconstruction work under way in the quake affected areas.
Speaking on this occasion, Prime Minister lauded the sympathetic and prompt cooperation spirit of the people of Pakistan from Karachi to Khyber and Chaman to Islamabad that they displayed in the form of assistance and selfless services. Shaukat Aziz also thanked the Punjab Government for providing land for establishing tent villages for quake affectees in the Chakwal and Fateh Jang adding it is time to share the sorrows with the quake affectees. He further added that patronless children would not be adopted saying that government would bring up and nourish these children with the coordination of welfare organizations. He added that Government is also ensuring the establishment of tent schools for the continuity of education of children of quake-hit areas to save their academic year.
Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Ellahi assured Prime Minister of all sort of cooperation for relief services and reiterated the commitment of Punjab Government to extend assistance for relief, restoration and reconstruction process in AJK and NWFP. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday has reiterated that the government is committed to step up relief and rehabilitation work in the earthquake affected areas of Azad Kashmir and NWFP.
Shaukat Aziz expressed these views with a delegation of DHL and SHV who called on him at Prime Minister house.The discussions focused on the relief and rehabilitation work in the earthquake affected areas. Representatives of the two organizations made some suggestion for further improving the logistics for dispatch of relief goods to affected areas as well as to improve facilities at various places for bringing more efficiency in the reconstruction and rehabilitation activities. The two agencies; Federal Relief Commission and Earthquake Rehabilitation Authority are working in close coordination with all related agencies for the relief and rescue work as well as for reconstruction and rebuilding of the affected areas.
The Prime Minister appreciated the spirit of volunteerism shown by the people and international community to contribute into the government’s efforts in the relief and rescue work. However, he said much more needs to be done and government and the people need to sustain this spirit. He said the magnitude of problem in the earthquake affected areas has increased manifold due to the particular nature of terrain of earthquake affected areas. He lauded the role of army in providing relief to the affected areas. He appreciated the private sector for effective coordination with various government agencies.
He stressed the need of public private partnership to expedite the restoration of normal life in the affected areas as soon as possible. The meeting was also attended by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Federal Relief Commission Mr. Faisal Ali Khan, Director, DHL, Mr. Sadiq N. Khan Awan, DHL, Mr. Pervaiz Akhtar, General Manger Corporate Affairs & Company Secretary, SHV Energy Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd., and Patrick J. Gregory, Chief Executive Officer, SHV Energy Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd.