PM expresses satisfaction over pace of earthquake relief efforts

BARIKOT (SWAT), Nov 14 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz
Sharif on Saturday expressed his satisfaction over the pace of relief
and compensation efforts in October 26 quake affected areas of Swat.
The Prime Minister arrived here in Gumgot village of Tehsil
Barikot to distribute cheques of compensation amount among the
residents of the area who were affected with the massive trembler
last month.
The Prime Minister lauded efforts of all stakeholders
including federal, provincial, district, local and armed forces
response to the natural calamity which jolted parts of the country
including Malakand division, destroying homes and resulting in loss
of previous lives in October.
He said that they should thank the Almighty Allah for saving
the country from large scale destruction because the tremors were
massive.
He said that he himself, the chief minister Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, the governor and his advisor Amir Muqam met in the
aftermath of the calamity and decided prompt compensation to the
affected populace of various areas in the province.
The compensation amount of Rs2 lac for each completely and Rs1
lac for each partially destroyed home was agreed to be distributed
swiftly so that the sufferings of the affected people could be
mitigated, he added.
“The government of KPK provided support while we also
supplemented them with financial aid. Teams from civilian and army
reached there and evaluated losses, so that the situation could be
tackled in a better way,” he added.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting senator Pervaiz
Rashid, Governor Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, PM Advisor Engineer Amir
Muqam and other provincial authorities were present during the
ceremony.
The Prime Minister praised the district coordination officer
for his efforts to distribute cheques till November 17, prior to the
set deadline.
He said the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and
Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) also deserved
accolades for distribution of blankets, medicines and potable water
among the affected people in rough terrains.
The Prime Minister, on the occasion, also announced
construction of a Chakdara-Kalam road on the demand of Amir Muqam
and residents of Barikot.
He told the gathering that the quality of the newly
constructed road would match the Motorway.
He said the construction on Nawaz Sharif Hospital in Swat had
started when he was a leader of the opposition and told his advisor
Engineer Ami Muqam to gear up his efforts for making it fully
functional.
The Prime Minister said that the countrymen would no longer
feel gas and power shortage, adding the power load shedding would be
overcome by 2018.
He announced that this area would be at the top list areas
getting gas supply.
He stressed that the relief and compensation work should be
completed before the setting of harsh winter in these areas.
The Prime Minister also condemned the terrorist attacks in
France, saying that Pakistan in the strongest words condemned all
incidents of terrorism occurring in any part of the world.
He also recalled that Swat was also a terrorism-infested area
in the past but with the successful operation, it got rid of this
menace, adding that the ongoing operation against the terrorism was
successful.
Amir Muqam also stressed that the relief efforts should be
completed prior to setting of harsh weather in these hilly area.
Lauding the Prime Minister’s efforts for uplift of the area,
he referred to construction of a kidney hospital in the area.
District Coordination Officer Swat Mahmood Saleem apprised the
Prime Minister that 6,058 cheques out of total 11,255 had been
distributed among the people whose houses were completely or
partially damaged during the quake.
He said that a total of 2,873 houses were completed destroyed
while 8,382 partially bore the severity of tremors.
He assured that by November 17, all the affected people would
get the compensation amount.