Punjab CM announces Support a Family package for quake victims
By Asim Hussain

ISLAMABAD—Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi Wednesday announced to start “Support-a-Family” relief programme” to extend support the earthquake affected families of Azad Kashmir and NWFP.
Addressing a press conference here at PML House, the Punjab Chief Minister said, under this programme, which will be sponsored by philanthropists Pakistan and abroad, help and assistance would provided for maximum short and long term period to about 100,000 families who have been affected by the October 8 earthquake. President Pakistan Muslim League, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Secretary General Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, federal ministers and many members of the National Assembly were also present on this occasion who announced to sponsor the affected families.
The Punjab Chief Minister explaining the project said, it would cost about Rs. 6,000 (one hundred dollars) per family per month and each family would be provided support for at least one year. He said the funds for this project would be collected from within and outside the country, from the overseas Pakistani donors, foreigners and Pakistani citizens who want to sponsor a family.
The Chief Minister said a special body would be constituted to implement the “Support-a-Family” programme. He said it would be implemented with the help of NADRA by preparing a comprehensive data base and all the funds being spent under this programme would be transparent and details would be available to the general public through web site. The new body for this purpose would have its head office at Lahore while its site offices will be at Muzaffarabad, Mansehra and Islamabad for effective collection of funds, proper coordination, administration and disbursement of financial aid in an expeditious and transparent manner.
The Chief Minister said the organization will beregistered as a society with sponsorship of the government, having distinguished public figures on its board. Chaudhry Pervez Elahi said the monitoring of the entire programme will be conducted through Financial Aid Managements Information System, which will keep the track of the donors, recipients, amount of donations and disbursements. He said transparency will be ensured with 100 per cent aid passed on to the recipients and added that the Punjab government will bear all administrative expenses.
The Chief Minister said disabled, widows,orphans and shelterless affected people would be given priority under this programme. The Punjab Chief Minister said the relief under the “Support-a-Family” would include income support, free medical treatment to all the injured of the family and building of houses for them. PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Punjab Chief Minister along with other MNAs and Minister announced to sponsor the families. Chaudhry Shujaat and Pervez Elahi announced to sponsor five families each. Giving further details the Chief Minister said the Punjab Government is fully prepared to overcome hardships being faced by the quake survivors. He said besides providing medical treatment to patients in the hospitals of Rawalpindi, the government has spared additional 13,000 beds in the Punjab hospitals for the quake victims.
The Chief Minister said the Punjab government would be soon getting 1000 tenets daily to provide to the earthquake victims. He said the government would ensure the quality of these tents so that they could be used in the winter season. The Chief Minister said Punjab government has set up a 50-bed hospital at Mansehra where 200 doctors are working round-the-clock to provide medical care to the injured of the quake hit areas. He said one more 5-bed hospital would be set up at Balakot which will start functioning within two to three weeks.
Referring to the relief goods, the Punjab Chief Minister said 5000 trucks loaded with relief goods were sent from the Punjab to the quake affected areas. The supply of relief goods continue and would go on in accordance with the need of the people. The Punjab Chief Minister said following “Sponsor-a-Family”, the Punjab government would also start “Adopt-a-School” programme to revive the educational facilities in the quake hit areas. He said the Punjab government had also offered to provide special quota for students from earthquake hit areas in the Medical Colleges of the Punjab and other professional educational institutions.
Replying to a question, the Chief Minister said when he heard the news of earthquake, he sent Punjab Law Minister to visit the affected areas in Murree and those who were affected were given compensation on next day of the quake. He said during his visit to affected areas in Murree today, he distributed Rs. 40 million among the affected people.
The Chief Minister said although he was abroad on the day of earthquake, but there was no delay in the relief measures from the Punjab government.