MINFAL providing 530,000 tons of wheat to quake victims
By Tariq Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD—The government is providing about 530,000 tons of wheat to earthquake victims to meet their immediate requirements in the affected areas.
World Food Programme (WFP) has also announced donation of 80,000 tons for AJK and 30,000 tons for urgent distribution to the quake affectees. According to official sources the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL) is expediting the releases of 300,000 and 120,000 tons of wheat to NWFP and AJK Governments. The two provincial governments have been advised to ensure urgent distribution of these food items to the most vulnerable populations.
NWFP and AJK Governments have chalked out an immediate plan to restore the economic cycle of the farming communities in the earthquake affected areas.
The NWFP government is helping the farmers to plant wheat on 30,000 acres and AJK Government on 15,000 acres, he added.
The inputs such as seed and fertilizers have been arranged by MINFAL directly from the producers/ manufactures to the target areas so that this sowing could be completed by the end of this month. The devastating earthquake had caused damage of about US $ 500 million covering crops, livestock and irrigation infrastructure of agriculture sector in NWFP.
Major damage struck to the livestock and livestock housing, crops and stores and irrigation in the affected areas of NWFP and AJK. The total population in the affected areas was estimated about 5 million people. First assessments have estimated that about 2.7 million people (390 000 households) have been affected by the earthquake, of which 1.4 million are located in AJK and 1.3 million in NWFP.
Latest reports indicate that the death toll exceeds 73 000 people and more than 69 000 people areinjured.