K & P

JI, ANP urge govt to speed up relief work

The JI chief stated his party had divided the affected areas into three zones

Our Correspondents October 29, 2015

The JI chief stated his party had divided the affected areas into three zones. PHOTO: FILE

PESHAWAR:

Jamaat-e-Islami and Awami National Party urged the government to provide immediate assistance to earthquake survivors.

JI Central Ameer Sirajul Haq emphasised the need for better coordination between the federal and provincial governments to ensure rapid rehabilitation. While talking to journalists at Markaz-e-Islami on Wednesday, Siraj said government departments work under specific rules that require processing time but people needed immediate relief – tents, medicines, blankets and food. “Winter is here and both the governments must work diligently to protect people from the cold,” he urged.

JI’s numbers

Siraj said JI will spend Rs0.2 billion on relief activities. He added 4,520 JI volunteers were carrying out relief work in afflicted areas. “Tents worth Rs7 million, tarpaulin worth Rs3.8 million, blankets worth Rs1.2 million and food packages worth Rs1.6 million havealready been bought.”

The JI chief stated his party had divided the affected areas into three zones. He added Senior Minister Inayatullah Khan will supervise relief work in Upper Dir and Chitral, alongside JI leadership and the district nazim. “Minister for Finance Muzaffar Said will oversee relief activities in Lower Dir while Minister for Zakat Habibur Rahman will manage efforts in Shangla, Swat and Buner,” he said.

Haq said 14,000 houses were damaged in seven districts of Malakand Division and funds were needed for reconstruction immediately.

While he appreciated the spirit of people from other provinces and their generous donations, he urged the government to seek foreign assistance. “If Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif can ask United States for aid without any calamity befalling the nation, this was a much needed time to request help,” he said.

ANP concurs

ANP Central Vice President Haji Ghulam Bilour said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government’s announcement of giving Rs0.1 million to each person whose house had been destroyed in the earthquake was a “joke”. “All-out support must be given.” Bilour said this while addressing a press conference at his residence on Wednesday.

Bilour said the earthquake had hit the province hard and immediate steps were required to ameliorate the sense of abandonment and chaos which followed. “I visited the city and found large fissures and cracks in several school buildings,” said Bilour. “These cannot be used unless they are repaired – currently they pose a risk if another earthquake hits the area.” He said it was the responsibility of the PTI-led government as well as the federal government to assist the victims and reconstruct the area.

He added elected local government representatives have not been given full authority and power. “The LG representatives are helpless and confused in this situation,” Bilour said.

No more silent

He accused PML-N minister Ihsan Iqbal of safeguarding the interest of his own province at the expense of that of the nation. “Iqbal told me a road will be constructed in K-P and Balochistan which will be our part in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” Bilour said, adding, “China will spend $46 billion on the project and Pukhtuns will only get a road while major benefits will be reaped by Punjab.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2015.