President assures transparent supply of relief goods
By Makhdoom Babar

ISLAMABAD—Assuring the international community of complete coordination and transparency in Pakistan’s relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts following the devastating October 8 earthquake, President General Pervez Musharraf Wednesday sought “sustained support” from the comity of nations, donors and relief agencies in carrying out the mammoth task ahead.
In a wide-ranging interaction with representatives of UN bodies, leading national and international non-governmental organizations, the President spelt out the Government’s priorities regarding relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation. He said that a precise database was being compiled to help assess the amount of damage and scope of rebuilding.
In order to ensure better planning and strategy, the database containing the requisite information will also be available in the form of a book to facilitate donors, organizations and individuals intending to sponsor any kind of infrastructure”.
The President said on the basis of the database, the Government would be able identify and pinpoint places for sponsors to undertake projects in the fields of housing, health and education. The facilities put in by the sponsoring organizations or individuals would be named after them, he added.
President Musharraf said Pakistan Army and members of National Volunteers Movement would join hands to, assist the people in NWFP and Azad Jammu and Kashmir in reconstructing of houses and rehabilitation work.
In the context of shielding people from cold weather, he said efforts have been geared to provide tents to the victims in valleys and also help those on mountain tops to re-construction of their houses for shelter.
“We are prioritizing fast-track extension of financial assistance to the affected people so that they are able to repair and re-erect their partially damaged houses in remote areas within this month before the onset of harsh winter,” he said.
He informed the gathering that the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority was devising a strategy to reconstruct partially damaged and completely destroyed towns and villages on modern lines.
Welcoming ideas put forth by the participants, the President said all avenues would be explored to go for quake-proof, fireproof and cost-effective houses in the affected areas.
He renewed his personal commitment to all efforts and said he would remain engaged in the process of reconstruction and rehabilitation stages and would be available to clear any bottlenecks.
“I shall speak to the UN Secretary General and also stay in touch with world leaders to ensure execution of relief and rehabilitation work,” he said when pointed out that some relief supplies including tents are awaiting logistical support in foreign lands.
“I will remain engaged throughout the process to channel the nation’s commitment and support in one clearly outlined direction — I am committed to transform this challenge into an opportunity by improving the conditions and lives for the quake victims”.
On rehabilitation of orphaned children, destitute, widows and trauma patients would be rehabilitated under the Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education.
He said a place, Hattian, has been identified to lodge them and provide them support and assistance in building their lives anew.
“We are committed to put ideas into action and I am sure that with support from the nation, the global community and the non-governmental organizations, we will be able to meet this challenge and bring life back to the survivors”.
UN Resident Coordinator in Pakistan, Jan Vandernootele, wished for more international support and commended Pakistani nation and the Armed Forces for their untiring commitment to overcome the October 8 tragedy.
Representatives of UN organizations, nation and international NGOs identified a number of areas including health, food, housing etc, and presented ideas for improving their coordination with the government.