ISLAMABAD, Dec 8 (APP): Forty seven bodies of PIA plane crash victims had been shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
Talking to APP, PIMS Administrator Dr Altaf Hussain Thursday said all the victims bodies were shifted to PIMS through 1122 and Edhi ambulances.
He said 24 samples had been collected from the family members of the deceased for DNA test while the PIMS hospital would continue receiving samples till completion process.
Complete identification process through DNA will take six to seven days, he added.
He said besides PIMS, technical assistance of other hospitals would be obtained in matching of DNA sequences.
Dr Altaf Hussain said best available facilities were being provided to the family members of the victims and a well-organized facilitation center had been formed at PIMS.
Arrangements had been made for the dead bodies of victims at District Headquarters Hospital Rawalpindi, PIMS, Federal Government Polyclinic and Combined Military Hospital.
The bodies of victims would remain at the four hospitals till completion of identification process.
PIMS management confirmed that DNA samples of 17 families’ members of victims of plane crash have been collected while the process is continuing.
An official of PIMS said that 38 family members out of 47 have reached PIMS and were involved in the DNA sample procedure.
He said the sample collection procedure of all family members will be completed within 24 hours.
He said some laboratories of Lahore and other cities and police department will be involved in DNA testing procedure.
The spokesman of the national flag carrier announced that on the directives of Chairman and CEO PIA an amount of Rs. 500,000 cash is being given to the next of kin of all the 47 persons who lost their lives in the tragic ATR crash, to meet funeral expenses.
The District Managers have been directed to personally visit the residences of the deceased and hand over the amount in cash.
This will be followed by a comprehensive compensation package as per law, the PIA spokesman added.
Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the federal government will provide transport facility for shifting of bodies of PIA plane crash victims to their native towns.
Talking to media at PIMS, the minister said a well-equipped facilitation center has been established at PIMS to facilitate the family members of victims.
Ghaibana Nimaz-e-Jinaza (funeral prayer in absentia) for the victims of Havelian air crash was offered at Emergency Block of PIMS.
The prayer among others was attended by Chairman PIA Azam Sehgal and senior staff of the airlines besides, notables from different walks of life.
