NWFP to build new cities for quake victims
From Our Correspondent

ABBOTTABAD—NWFP Chief Minsiter, Muhammed Akram Khan Durrani has said that provincial government would build new cities for those who have been rendered homeless after the devastating earthquake of Oct 8. In this regard, he said, the government was in touch with the experts from US, Germany and China. Negotiations were also underway with a Karachi based company that has carried out rehabilitation work in tsunami hit countries.
He was addressing a special meeting of NWFP Cabinet held here on Wednesday at district government secretariat. The meeting was attended by all Provincial Ministers, Chief Secretary NWFP, Inspector General of Police and Provincial Secretaries of National Construction Departments. The Chief Minister said that according to initial estimate, 500,000 new houses would be built for the affectees of the earthquake. At least Rs. 17 billion were needed to reconstruct and restore the official infrastructure of the government while much more will be required for the rehabilitation of the affected people of Abbottabad, Mansehra, Battagram, Kohistan and Shangla.
Akram Durrani announced that sweepers and other sanitation staff would be hired on contract basis in the devastated areas for cleaning and sanitation purpose so that spread of any epidemic could be avoided. He said that he has already ordered the digging of four tube wells in Balakot to overcome the shortage of drinking water in the area and directed the concerned department to restore water supply to Balakot and Garhi Habibullah within three days. He said he would take up the financial matter with the federal government.
The Chief Minister pointed out that there was no shortage of food stuff in the quake-affected areas whereas shortage of tents and blankets was badly affecting the relief activities in hilly terrains. He asked the elected representatives to persuade the inhabitants of the highlands to come down to plains where government has established tent villages and camps.
Akram Durrani took strong exception to the alleged reports of loot and plunder of relief goods in certain areas and said that looters of relief goods would be dealt with an iron hand to discourage such incidents in the future. It was decided in the meeting that special cabinet meeting would be held on every Wednesday to take stock of the situation in quake-hit areas and rehabilitation efforts. Earlier while briefing the cabinet, NWFP Chief Secretary, Ejaz Qureshi said loss to the infrastructure included roads, water supply schemes, schools, colleges, Health facilities, police and prison buildings. He informed the cabinet that so far NWFP government has provided 6443 tents, 5832 blankets and 4448 mattresses to the affected people. He said that so far 55891 injured have been treated in the hospitals of Abbottabad, Mansehra, Kohistan, Shangla and Peshawar and Rs 184 million have been distributed among the heirs of dead and Rs 51.5 million have been distributed among the injured by the provincial government. Inspector General of Police, Raffat Pasha also briefed the cabinet about the overall law and situation in the province with particular reference to the quake affected areas.