PM assures fair use of relief funds
Lauds volunteers’ role in rehabilitation work
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Tuesday said government was providing every possible assistance to Non Governmental Organizations in their relief activities in quake affected areas however, the organizations should also identify more relief and rehabilitation projects where we could help them.
Addressing a convention organised by Islamic Relief at Jinnah Convention Centre, he said government will utilize all its available resources with the help of NGOs in utilization of funds for quake-affectees rehabilitation. He also commended the role Islamic Relief has played in relief and rehabilitation activities in the quake ravaged areas of NWFP and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The premier said we have several plans for rehabilitation of quake affectees, which we will materialize under the banner of Ministry of Social Welfare.
He also stressed upon NGOs to help government in tackling this national disaster effectively. “We need more assistance from NGOs in this regard, he maintained. Mr Shuakat also stressed the need of better government-NGO relationship because the situation Pakistan facing right now needs better harmonization. If we want to utilize all the available funds for betterment of quake affectees, we will have to jack up our joint efforts, he added. He said international donors conference proved to be very fruitful as pledges of 6.2 billion dollar will go a long way in rehabilitation of quake affectees. The prime minister pointed out that government will utilize the funds in transparent manner and the data of rehabilitation and reconstruction expenditures will be placed on a website for the accountability of the entire process. This process will make the system more transparent as we want to bring everything before the people particularly about the expenses, he added. We are providing every detail to the people as we don’t want to create doubts in their minds about the system, he maintained. The prime minister pointed out that the National Volunteer Movement was established for rehabilitation of quake affectees and it will definitely achieve its targets.
He appreciating the role of non-governmental organizations in the relief and rehabilitation work emphasized the need for more coordinated efforts between government and NGOs to revive normal life in the quake hit areas at the earliest. Addressing international humanitarian forum organized by Islamic Relief Worldwide, a UK based NGO, here at Convention Center, the Prime Minister said the government was committed to continue relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction in the quake hit areas to provide better future to the survivors of October 8 devastating quake. He said task and challenges were enormous but with the help of local and international NGOs, Pakistan Army and from friendly countries Pakistan would be able to revive normal life in the affected areas soon. He said the government had ensured complete transparency and accountability in the expenditures on rehabilitation and reconstruction in the affected areas. Shaukat Aziz said besides cabinet committee, eminent persons committee, the government had been making efforts to evolve consensus with all political parties to form a Parliamentary Committee of the parliament to have an oversight role in rehabilitation and reconstruction work in the affected areas.