Pakistan committed to bring normalcy in lives of quake survivors: PM
PakistanTimes.net Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Friday said the entire nation and the government are committed to rehabilitate the survivors of October 8 earthquake bringing normalcy in their lives.

He was talking to journalists after offering Eid-ul-Fitr prayers with quake-affected people of Azad Kashmir and NWFP here at the tentage village established in Sector H-11.

The Prime Minister, who offered the Eid prayers with the affected people, said the entire nation from Karachi to Khyber is united in expressing solidarity and showing sympathies with their brethren and sisters.

He said people are celebrating the Eid with heavy heart, and added, “people are not celebrating rather they are caring and sharing.”

Expresses Grief on Tragedy

Expressing grief over the loss of lives and praying for the early recovery of displaced people, he said the nation has shown great strength while extending help to the affected people in the hour of need.

He, however, said a lot is need to be done for completing reconstruction and rehabilitation work in the quake-hit areas. He appreciated the assistance from the world community and said, the continuing reconstruction phase could be lengthy as it will take time to reconstruct houses, roads, schools and colleges.

Later, the Prime Minister, accompanied by Leader of House in the Senate, Wasim Sajjad; Minister for Health, Muhammad Nasir Khan and Minister of State for Interior, Shahzad Waseem was briefed about the facilities at the tentage village set up by the Capital Development Authority in collaboration with volunteer organisations.

He was informed that more than 8,000 affected people from Azad Kashmir and NWFP have been accommodated at the Sector H-11 tentage village and they are being provided all the basic facilities including water, food, healthcare and electricity.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also distributed Eid gifts among the children and enquired about their well-being. He visited a makeshift school established at the tentage village and spent some time with the students, where after, he went inside several tents and talked to the affected people.●