$211m cash lags behind $2.336b quake pledges
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—The country has secured foreign assistance pledges of $ 2336.4 million for quake relief, with $ 211.2 million cash received so far in the President’s Relief Fund.
While at domestic level, an amount of Rs 5.4 billion (cash) has been deposited in the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) out of a total of Rs 5.676 billion pledges, according to a press release issued by the Federal Relief Commission here on Thursday.
The figures of the Relief Commissioner Office also put the death toll as on November 10 at 73,294 with 69344 seriously injured and 58896 injured.
According to the press release, the government has so far distributed Rs. 1407.2 million among the earthquake affectees in terms of compensation for death, injured and house damages.
The break-up shows that Rs. 1038.4 million have been distributed among affected families of 10,364 dead, Rs. 32.05 million among 1282 injured and Rs. 247.76 among people as compensation for damages to 12644 houses.
In Azad Kashmir Rs. 342.81 million have been distributed as compensation for deaths and Rs. 301.21 million for houses damage.
In NWFP, Rs. 695.6 million have been paid as compensation for deaths, Rs. 32.05 million were paid to the injured and Rs. 46.55 million have been paid as compensation for houses damage.
Relief activities figures show that so far 339,358 tents, 3,191,487 blankets, 46579.5 tons of ration, 2990.337 tons of medicines and 8131.446 tons of miscellaneous items have been distributed among the affected people.
Figure of total sorties generated by PAF and Army Aviation till November 8 stands at 5494 with 146 sorties generated by Aviation on November 9.
Digital exchange at Chinari has successfully been restored.
About the road clearance, in Neelum valley (72 km), road has been cleared for traffic upto 13.2 km from Muzaffarabad and 33 kms mule track has been restored from Muzaffarabad to Deolian.
In Jeswa By Pass (43 Km), 33 Km road from Jura and 20.3 Km road from Muzaffarabad has been cleared.
In Jhelum valley (54 Km), 59 kms road from Muzaffarabad to Hattian Bala has been cleared, while road upto Chakoti opened on November 8.
Agencies add: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) wants its continuous relief to address the rising concern over the fate of around 50,000 orphans and separated children after the October 8 devastating earthquake.
Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, wife of (late) Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the honorary chairperson of UAE Red Crescent Society (RCS) has instructed the head of the RCS mission to prepare an immediate survey on the impact of earthquake disaster on the children and their physical condition in order to provide them necessary requirement soon, UAE Embassy said here Thursday quoting the Emirates News Agency, Abu Dhabi.
According to a UEA Embassy press release, the RCS mission has made contacts in Pakistan with several international organizations in this regard.
It has been reported by the UNICEF that an estimated 1.62 to 2.2 million children were affected by the quake and that 50,000 have been orphaned. UNICEF has appealed for help to overcome the psychological trauma.
A delegation of Shaheen Business & Investment Group, comprising Khaled M. Shaheen, CEO and Group Chairman and Dr. Jawad A. Anani, special Advisor to the Chairman, of Shaheen Business & Investment Group, Thursday called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, here at the Prime Minister’s House and showed keen interest in investing in tourism, infrastructure and energy sectors in Pakistan.
Talking to delegation the prime minister said that Pakistan’s economy had significantly grown during the last five years. “This year the growth target is between 6-8%. Though Pakistan is facing a big challenge due to the devastation and destruction caused by the earthquake government is committed to achieve the growth targets and it is hoped that growth rate will not be affected,” he added.
The Prime Minister said the investors’ friendly policies of his government and the enabling environment provided to the private sector had restored the confidence of domestic and foreign investors, which was evident from the increase in investments.
The Prime Minister informed the delegation that according to a survey conduced by IFC about the ease of doing business, Pakistan ranks 66th out of 150 countries. Pakistan got a better rating than many neighbouring countries.
Khaled M. Shaheen said his company was impressed with the economic growth achieved by Pakistan during the last five years. He appreciated the investment polices of Government of Pakistan and said his group was keen to invest in infrastructure, tourism and energy sectors and is holding meetings in the relevant ministries to identify the exact projects.