ISLAMABAD, Oct 27 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif
on Tuesday said the government would assist the provincial government of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in carrying out relief and rehabilitation measures in the earthquake-hit areas.
Chairing a high-level emergency meeting to review the relief
measures taken in the wake of the earthquake that struck the country
yesterday, the Prime Minister said the government was capable enough
to rescue and rehabilitate the affected people.
The meeting was convened to discuss comprehensive plan to
tackle the situation in the aftermath of the disaster that resulted
in the loss of lives and damaged infrastructure.
The Prime Minister said resources would be provided to the
provincial governments to effectively carry out relief activities.
He said the federal government would announce a relief package
for the affected people after preparation of comprehensive
assessment reports by the concerned authorities.
The Prime Minister applauded the efforts and quick response by
Pakistan Army, National Highways Authority, National Disaster
Management Authority and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities
in the aftermath of the natural calamity.
Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Major
General Asghar Nawaz updated the Prime Minister about the NDMA’s
National Emergency Operation Centre which was promptly activated
after the earthquake and was monitoring the situation round the
clock. The NDMA has deputed six search and rescue teams so far.
Director General Military Operations Maj Gen Sahir Shamshad
Mirza apprised the Prime Minister about the relief measures taken by
Pakistan Army in the earthquake-hit areas.
He mentioned that troops had been mobilized for carrying out
rescue operation in the earthquake-affected areas while all the
Combined Military Hospitals (CMHs) had been put on high alert.
The Prime Minister was briefed that NHA has cleared all the
vital roads and was effectively working to clear the remaining
roads.
The SUPARCO is providing previous and post imagery of the
earthquake affected areas to the concerned authorities for carrying
out rescue work.
The Prime Minister was briefed that telecommunication networks
and vital installations of WAPDA remained unaffected.
As many as 228 precious lives were lost while 1620 people
injured and 3320 houses damaged by the earthquake.
The meeting was attended by Governor Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Sardar
Mehtab Ahmad Khan and the ministers including Interior Minister
Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Finance minister Ishaq Dar and Information
Minister Pervaiz Rashid.
Director General ISPR Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, Chairman
National Highway Authority Shahid Ashraf Tarar and Additional
Secretary to PM Fawad Hasan Fawad were also present.
The Prime Minister yesterday had directed all federal civil
military and provincial agencies to declare immediate alert and
mobilize all resources to ensure security of people affected by
the strong earthquake.
On his directive, a Crisis Management Cell was established at
the Prime Minister’s House to coordinate with all federal civil,
military and provincial agencies for damage assessment, rescue,
relief and recovery operations.
Pakistan's National News Agency
