DGPR Earthquaek briefing
- October 3, 2013, 8:29 pm
- Breaking News
- 218 Views
QUETTA: Chief Minister Balochistan Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch has said that soon a parliamentary community would be formed to monitor the restoration work in earthquake affected areas.
He said that the opposition members and all parties would be included in the committee which would help ensure transparency of restoration process.
Chief Minister expressed these views while addressing to the members of provincial assembly at a briefing on earthquake relief activities by Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), here on Tuesday.
“We are striving hard to provide every possible aid to the affected people and the relief activities were started soon after the earthquake,†he said, adding that secretaries of all departments including he himself were present in Awaran to monitor the relief activities.
He said that chief minister of Punjab and Sindh, federal interior minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly, two provincial ministers and PDMA Punjab’s director also visited the affected areas who provided relief goods and also assured for provision of more relief to affected people.
He said that the Chief Minister Punjab had provided a helicopter which was being utilized in relief activities. Besides, he said that Army, Frontier Corps and Administration provided relief to the affected people on emergent basis and they were still continuing relief activities.
Chief Minister said that Deputy Speaker Mir Abdul Qadoos Bezinjo exhibited courage by staying in earthquake affected areas. He said that it was our collective issue and the government did whatever it could do and would do whatever it can for the restoration of affected people. He said the purpose of briefing the assembly members was to provide the figures about the restoration of affectees and to apprise them of steps taken by government.
He said NDMA and PDMA by immediately taking steps provided tents, medicines and other edibles to affectees and this process was still continued.
Chief Minister said that the ERRA chairman also visited the earthquake hit areas and announced to construct houses for the affectees. Besides, he said the head of Bahira Town Malik Riaz had announced Rs 0.2 million for each affected family. In London, ARY’s owner Haji Abdul Razaq in a meeting also assured to provide every possible help to the affectees.
He said Prime Minister Chaudhary Muhammad Yaseen along with minister Awqaf Afzal Shahid handed over a check of Rs 40 million for earthquake stricken people.
Chief Minister told members that Tahir Bezinjo and Dr Hussain were looking after the injured people admitted in Karachi. “We welcome the criticism of opposition and media on condition it should guide us,†he said.
Earlier, PDMA Balochistan’s director general Hafiz Abdul Basit while briefing assembly members said the severe earthquake on Sept 24th, and 28th affected one tehsil of Kech district and three tehsils of Awaran district. He said according to a careful estimation 37,000 families and 1,85000 people had been affected. 371 people were killed and 765 other injured in these areas, he added.
DG PDMA said Rs 400 million had been released for relief of earthquake affectees and on other heads, so far on the part of Balochistan Government and others commodities, including 14922 begs foods, 13105 tens, 6625 blankets, 3000 mats , 5300 mosquito nets, 50 cottons first aid kits and other goods had been supplied to affected areas. He said so far 111 trucks had been dispatched from Quetta and Bela. He said in order to fulfill manpower the officers of nearby districts were sent in affected areas to expedite the relief activities.
He said Chief Secretary soon visited the affected areas after the earthquake and secretary health, education, PHI, Finance and other departments reached the affected areas and monitored the relief activities.
DGPDMA said told the members that 1000 Jawans of Pak-Army were busy in rescue operations set one medical camp o providing medical aid to the people in Awaran. Besides, he said army dispatched 90 tents, 1212 food packages and 3900 water bottles while they were busy in distributing food in affected areas.
He said that a team of Public Health Engineer headed by chief Engineer along with heavy machinery reached affected areas and started provision of water through tanks in Gishgor and Tertaj while the affectees of Awaran city, Gajar, Mashkay, Labach, Chari Malar, Saray Malar areas of Kech district Kalat and Dandar were also supplied water.
Likewise, he said 52 doctors, 26 paramedics, 28 ambulance and medicines in large quantity were available in the affected areas.
