Premier unveils National Volunteer enrolment drive
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Friday urged the people belonging to all segments of the society to show a spirit of volunteerism and work with missionary zeal for the rehabilitation of quake victims and reconstruction of affected areas.
Addressing an “enrolment drive” in connection with National Volunteer Movement here at the Prime Minister Secretariat, he said the movement will infuse new spirit in young, men and women to work with full dedication for the rehabilitation of quake affectees. The Prime Minister said October 8 earthquake is a great tragedy which could only be coped with bravery and national spirit of volunteerism.
Shaukat Aziz expressed the hope that with the cooperation of Pakistan Army, United Nations, NGOs, Pakistani nation and foreign as well as local volunteers the government would be able to provide quick relief to the earthquake victims in their rehabilitation and reconstruction.
The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of foreign relief teams and said they are working tirelessly in the rehabilitation and evacuation of the injured people. He said more than 73,000 people were killed and the same number injured in the earthquake devastation. He said the entire world has sent relief goods, teams who have established relief camps and hospitals in the quake hit areas to facilitate the victims in this critical juncture.
The Prime Minister said a task force of psychologists and psychiatrists headed by MNA Riaz Fatiana has been formed to provide counseling to the traumatized people. Shaukat Aziz paid rich tributes to the nation for showing volunteerism in this hour of need and termed the spirit shown by the people of Pakistan from Karachi to Khyber as tremendous.
The Prime Minister said the spirit of the people showed that Pakistani nation has full sympathy for the Kashmiri people. Regarding criticism of foreigners in Pakistan by some elements, the Prime Minister said they are taking part in relief activities with the spirit of sympathy for the
affected people. He said more than six y countries have sent relief workers to Pakistan to help the affectees.
Shaukat Aziz said government is establishing a Disaster Relief Agency to train the people for voluntary work in and outside Pakistan.