Timely provision of essentials to Pakistan's Quake-hit areas main reason for Confidence: Gen. Farooq
Pakistan Times' Staff Report   

ISLAMABAD: Federal Relief Commissioner Major Gen. Farooq Ahmad Khan has reiterated the commitment that Federal Relief Commission will continue to work in harmony and in coordination with the donor community, international organizations and NGOs to ensure a concerted response and manage the post-earthquake situation in the affected areas.

He expressed these views while talking to a seven-member Russian delegation comprising media representatives and academicians that met him here Tuesday.

Maj Gen. Farooq reaffirmed the commitment that funds meant for the earthquake shall be managed in a transparent manner, said a press release.

Timely provision of shelters, food and medical support is the main 
reason for the people's confidence who are affected by the October-8 earthquake.

"To guard against any irregularities in fund management, only one fund (President's fund) for earthquake affected people is established where the donations stands at Rs. 6.6 billion," said Gen. Farooq.

He said any appropriation from that fund is done only for a specific project and there are no chances of irregularities.

Gen. Farooq informed the visiting delegation that we are facing the challenging task to care and rehabilitate over 1820 widows, orphans and destitute, 731 paraplegics and 684 amputees.

He said that over 282, 833 one-room shelters are constructed by Army, International Organizations and NGOs.

Almost 44 field hospitals from friendly countries are working in the 
affected areas while 47 medical teams are providing health cover.

Logistics Support by Russia

Gen. Farooq appreciated the monetary and logistics support extended by the Russian Government, specially the $ 600,000 pledge which was made in Geneva against UN flash appeal.

He also thanked the Russian people and government for sending a search and rescue team, a medical assistance team and over 70 tons of relief supplies.

The visiting delegation included Valentine Prussakov (weekly Zavtra), Prof, A Vigasin (Moscow State University), Prof. Alexandra L Safranova (Moscow State University), Arhipov Andrey Vjacheslavovie (Novay Verymia), Ms Tatiana Froslovskaya (Ros Business Consulting) and Prokhanov Vasily Alexandrovic (Zavlra).

New and Beautiful Azad Kashmir

Meanwhile, Speaker Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly Muhammad Siab Khalid Tuesday that a new and beautiful Azad Jammu and Kashmir would be re-constructed from April next by injecting atleast Rs 200 billion within a period of two to three years.

The new economic activities would help the survivors to come out of mental trauma, he told 'Pakistan Times' by adding that the quake area surviving government servants living in official residences and common survivors residing in rented accommodations would also be given substantial 
compensation for the loss of their precious house hold items including electronic equipments.

Appreciating the administration of Azad Kashmir for its dedication and honesty in distributing the compensatory amount he said:"An amount of Rs 10 billion has so far been distributed among the affectees but not a single case of corruption has been reported by anyone."•