Relief, rehabilitation continues in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa

Administration establishes special bank counters for quake victims; remote areas in need of more attention

CHITRAL/ PESHAWAR/ UPPER DIR/ LOWER DIR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government established special bank counters in 12 affected districts on Saturday to help earthquake victims obtain compensation.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) requested National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) to set up the counters so that people could easily cash compensation cheques handed through a special package.

“NBP’s special counters were established to ensure that people from remote areas can easily cash in their cheques,” said PDMA Spokesperson Latifur Rehman.

He added authorities would receive reports from the bank about the number of cheques processed and cashed. “The counters will be operational for a month and those people who have not been compensated can contact PDMA on its emergency numbers.”

He said the cheque distribution process had started in most affected districts. The DCs had distributed 15 death compensation cheques in Shangla, as many in Swat, 24 in Lower Dir, seven in Torghar, eight in Buner, five in Mardan and four in Lower Kohistan on Friday. In Lower Dir, there were 42 injured people who received compensation cheques as well as seven victims in Upper Dir and six in Mardan. The PDMA transferred Rs20 million into the Nowshera DC’s account and Rs40 million into the Upper Kohistan DC’s account on Saturday. He added Rs10 million would be credited into Battagram DC’s account on Monday.

According to Rehman, the supply of food and other items from PDMA’s warehouse to the affected areas was almost complete. The authority was sending these goods to the mountainous regions of Swat, Shangla and Chitral via helicopter. “We requested the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to arrange helicopters for relief and rescue operations. Currently, one MI-17 and two UH1H helicopters are taking part in the operation,” Rehman said. The spokesperson pointed out the helicopters would supply relief goods to Chitral on Sunday (today) from the PDMA warehouse located in Jalozai, Nowshera.

“We asked the DCs of the affected districts to purchase relief goods locally with the funds in their accounts. We supplied the relief items from our own warehouse to places where needed,” he concluded.

Protest in Upper Dir

Workers and leaders of political parties held a demonstration against alleged nepotism by the district administration in Wari, Upper Dir on Saturday.

The protesters accused officials and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders of ignoring genuine earthquake victims when distributing relief goods in the district.  Beside PTI Parliamentary Secretary and MPA Fazal Elahi, the protest was attended by PPP MPA Sahibzada Sanaullah, ANP District President Raja Amir Zaman, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl leaders Malik Naushad Khan, Malik Waseet Khan, Malik Sher Bahadar, Mian Fazalur Rahman and Shafiqullah Khan. The protesters blocked the Dir-Peshawar road for traffic.

Later, Deputy Commissioner Zakaullah Khattak, district nazim Sahibzada Faseehullah and District Police Officer Israruddin Bacha approached the demonstrators and assured all quake victims would be compensated based on merit. The protest was finally called off after six hours.

Relief for Chitral

Chitral district nazim Haji Maghfirat Shah said the administration must make proper arrangements for the distribution of relief items. He added records must be provided to the district council of all such activities. Shah issued this statement while addressing a district meeting especially convened to combat the earthquake.

“Chitral is confronted with numerous problems and all local government members must think on a broader scale for the welfare of the whole district. The Chitral DC said Punjab Rescue 1122 would take part in activities in Koragh, Boni, Mastuj and various other districts.

Alternate means

Government Primary School Ghozano Bandha in Rabbat, Lower Dir, was completely damaged by the earthquake, but the determination of some students was unwavering as they attended class under the open sky. The headmaster said 50 of the 173 students were at school.

He pointed out that the damaged structure could collapse at any moment and demanded that authorities take immediate notice.

Locals and parents criticised the provincial government for not taking notice of the school so demanded an alternative solution.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1^st, 2015.