Donate in form of Kashmir resolution, President asks India
Unveils cohesive rebuilding plan - Thankful to World community, UN Chief
By Uzma Zafar

ISLAMABAD—President General Pervez Musharraf made an emphatic appeal to India to settle long-standing Jammu and Kashmir dispute in the wake of last month’s earthquake and subsequent goodwill existing between Kashmiris on both sides as well as between the people of the two countries.
“My appeal to India is let’s together resolve the Kashmir dispute once and for all and grasp the fleeting moment, let happiness emerge from the ruins of the tragedy”, he stated, addressing the International Donors’ Conference, attended by UN Secretary General and leaders from around the world.
President Musharraf singled out the Indian delegation’s presence at the conference and said the resolution of the lingering issue be New Delhi’s donation to mitigate the sufferings of Kashmiris. He pointed out that the earthequake has created a unique feeling of togetherness and helping each other on both sides of Kashmir and between the people of India and Pakistan. “Therefore, I believe the challenge of earthquake can be converted into an opportunity of lifetime”, he said asking the Indian leadership, the opposition, media, business community, the administration of Indian Held Kashmir and APHC leadership to contribute to efforts for addressing the dispute.
Unveiling a comprehensive package of reconstruction costs of various kinds of infrastructure down to village level, President General Pervez Musharraf Saturday asked the world community to assist it in rebuilding earthquake-shattered areas through an enduring commitment.
In his keynote address to the International Donors’ Conference, also attended by UN Secretary General, the President sought financial support or sponsorship in accomplishing the US dollars 5.2 billion relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation tasks in an areas sprawling over 28000 sq km. He also pledged total transparency and accountability in spending all contributions and informed that the break-up of costs for facilities in health, education and other fields would be put on the web to help individuals, companies or countries willing to sponsor these.
“We shall make it transparent and ease sponsorship for individuals or comapnies willing to come forth,” he said informing the gathering about devastation wrecked by October 8 calamity in the mountainous areas of NWFP and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where 73000 people have been killed and about three million rendered homeless.
Musharraf said based on recent world experiences in rebuilding in the wake of natural disasters like last year’s Tsunami in East Asian countries, he said Pakistan would like to go for owner-driven strategy for housing under which each owner would e extended Rs 200,000 each to re-erect houses. “I am  extremely grateful to the international community for extending prompt relief assistance - but now we look forward to generous long-term commitment. “We will welcome financial assistance in the form of contributions to President’s Earthquake Relief Fund and also more than welcome anybody willing to sponsor a facility, a village or even a Tehsil,” he said in the opening session of the conference, Pakistan has hosted to muster up world support in its reconstruction efforts.
He said the Government will go for need-based infrastructure and not just try to restore the old damaged facilities since it wants to covert this challenge into an opportunity for improvement in the lives of quake survivors.
Expressing gratitude to the world community for coming out with US dollars 5.4 billion commitment for Pakistan’s reconstruction plans in the quake zone, President Pervez Musharraf Saturday vowed that all finances would be utilized transparently on improving the lot of October 8 calamity survivors.
“Your support clearly indicates that the world community is with us, your understanding at this hour of need will never be forgotten,” he said, wrapping up an international donors’ conference, where pledges outweighed the initial reconstruction cost put at US dollars 5.2 billion. However, the President, flanked by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, said the reconstruction cost in the mountainous regions of NWFP and Azad Jammu and Kashmir would surge up to US dollars six billion as Pakistan would not just go for reviving old structures and infrastructure. “We want to build need-based facilities to effect long-term improvement in the lives of the people,” he told the conference, earlier also attended by UN Secretary General. Musharraf declared the donors’ conference a success and thanked the world leaders for backing up Pakistan at this critical hour.
“My deepest appreciation and gratitude for world community for helping Pakistan in this hour of need - participation of donors from around the world shows that this world is a global village and this joint heritage of mankind takes countries forward. “Pakistan does realize that we need to be an important member in the comity of nations to have a position of respect in the world.” He held out a categorical assurance that all contributions would be spent clearly and at places as desired by the donors for the well-being of the survivors.
“Let me assure this gathering that whatever assistance, cooperation and understanding you have shown at this hour, will never be forgotten - the money you have pledged will be accounted for and spent transparently.” The President believed that the zeal and generosity of the Pakistani nation would help the country overcome the shortfall between pledged amount of US dollars 5.4 billion and the expected expenditure of US dollars six billion.