PM hopes to revive normal life in quake-hit areas

 ISLAMABAD—In a message on the first anniversary of the October 8 earthquake, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Saturday the government is satisfied with its relief and rescue operations carried out in the affected areas of NWFP and AJK and has now launched a massive programme of reconstruction to revive the normal life there.
He said in his message on the tv channels that the government would not leave behind any one in the affected areas and continue the determined efforts for rehabilitation of each and every person.
The Prime Minister said the disaster last year had devastated towns and villages spreading over an area of 30,000 square kilometres, causing over 73,000 deaths, injuring tens of thousands and affecting 3.5 million households.
He said the government is satisfied with its first year work of relief and rescue done in the affected areas.
With the help of people of Pakistan, local and international NGOs, Pakistan Army and volunteers from many countries, the government was able to provide relief to the affected people.
The Prime Minister said all basic needs of life including schools, colleges, hospitals, banks are working either in permanent or temporary buildings.
He said the government provided Rs. 25,000 as initial grant to each affected family and then provided Rs. 175,000 for the construction of the houses.
The Prime Minister said so far more than 90 per cent of the affected people, who were living in tents last year, have now shifted to some sort of shelter. He said many affected
people have started reconstruction of their houses with the support of the government and through self-help basis.
Shaukat Aziz said after the immense tragedy some time was needed to revive to normal life and assured that the government would continue its efforts to fully achieve the goal.
The Prime Minister said the government has the resources to provide help and assistance to the affected people.
He said he had conducted over 50 visits to various affected areas and personally knew about the problems of the people.
The Prime Minister said with the cooperation and close coordination among local governments, AJK and NWFP government, federal government and NGOs, the relief and rehabilitation process was going on successfully.
About the people living in tents, the Prime Minister said the government had taken adequate measures to provide them best possible shelter. He said the government has winterized the tents.
The government is also providing loans to generate job opportunities to the victims of the quake, he said. The Prime Minister thanked the international community for extending help and cooperation in the rehabilitation and reconstruction work.
He said the new construction in the quake hit areas would be earthquake resistant while many administrative offices from Muzaffarabad, located near the fault line, would be shifted to other places. He said Balakot is also situated in red zone and it would also be shifted to Bakrial for the safety of the people.
The Prime Minister said there is complete transparency in the expenditures as there is a foolproof mechanism to check the disbursement of the funds.
The Prime Minister in his message to the victims, said, “The government is with you, the situation is improving, the journey is long, but with your dedication and courage, we will reach the destination of having good facilities.”
He also appreciated the devotion and courage of the victims of the earthquake.
The Prime Minister said the government would turn this adversity into opportunity by rebuilding the affected areas and providing better facilities.
He said the funds from the donors are on track and Pakistan has negotiated only soft loans while IMF loans have been rejected.
The Prime Minister said although expenditures are increasing beyond the estimates, but the government is satisfied that the donors will provide more funds to fill the gap.
He appreciated the work of Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority for helping the people of the affected areas.
The Prime Minister said ERRA has been working in an organized and planed manner.
The whole reconstruction work would be completed in three to five years, he added.
About the complaints regarding distribution of compensation, assessment and other relief operation, the Prime Minister said there is a mechanism in place to deal with the complaints and the government takes up each and every complaint.—Agencies