Sultan urges tin shelters for quake survivors

ISLAMABAD—Terming supply of food, medicines and tents to earthquake victims useful, Leader of Opposition in AJK Legislative Assembly, Barrister Sultan Mehmood has expressed a need to provide them houses made of tin roofs aimed at protecting them from chilly winter.
People should be provided tin sheets and some money enabling them to construct a shelter on temporary basis before their complete rehabilitation, he told APP here on Friday after a two-week visit to USA, Canada, UK and Europe. He also urged the overeas Kashmiris and foreign donor agencies to donate generously for rehabilitation of quake-stricken people especially the winter was going to start and more speedy help was needed.
He said the relief period is almost over and the priority is going to be shelter because of the cold weather. Giving details of his visit, Sultan Mehmood said that during his visit to Toronto, he addressed two public meetings of Pakistani and Kashmiri expatriates and appealed them to assist the quake-survivors.
“I informed them that survivors will immediately require solid constructions especially shelters made of tin roofs,” he added. The Kashmiri Leader also held meetings at Canadian Foreign Office and addressed a reception organized by Parliamentarians.. All Parities Kashmir Committee was formed and Ms. Carolyn Perris was elected as first Chairperson, he added.
He also appealed for more funds for earthquake affected people and asked Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to extend its projects in Azad Kashmir. In his visit to USA, he held meeting with officials at State Department, Congressman Anthony Wiener. Sultan Mehmood addressed a meeting organized by All Parties Kashmir Committee in European Parliament in Brussels. He asked Parliamentarians that European Union’s Aid of 80 million Euro should directly be given to Pakistan government and not through International NGOs.
In United Kingdom, he addressed a meeting in the British House of Commons organized by All Parties Kashmir Committee. “My primary purpose was to get funds for earthquake affectees especially when winter has already started and effecting relief work”, he added. He also stressed international community to come forward and help for the solution of Kashmir issue. To a question, he said the Line of Control (LoC) should be open without any condition. He added that demilitarization in Kashmir should start with withdrawal of Indian forces from cities of occupied Kashmir.—APP