Quake compensation raised
APP
The government Monday increased the compensation amount for the earthquake-hit North Western Frontier 
Province and Azad Jammu and Kashmir from Rs 20 billion to Rs 80 billion. The decision to this effect was taken on recommendations from NWFP Chief Minister Muhammad Akram Durrani and AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan at a meeting of the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) and the Federal Relief Commission. The meeting, chaired by President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, was convened as a follow-up of the donors’ conference that was held on November 19 in Islamabad and was successful in raising the required donations. The meeting also discussed the revival of income opportunities, creation of industry and improving the life of people in the earthquake-hit areas, which ultimately would lead to the conversion of this “challenge into an opportunity”, as put by President Musharraf. During the meeting, it was decided that an amount of Rs 125,000 would be given for each affected house in NWFP and AJK. This amount would be in addition to the already announced amount of Rs 25,000. It was also decided at the meeting that an additional amount of Rs 25,000 would be paid as an incentive to those affected houses the owners of which would adopt the earthquake resistance standards laid down by the government. Thus every affected house will ultimately get a total amount of Rs 175,000. The matters about detailed follow-up actions for the realisation of pledges and maintaining a database were also discussed at the meeting. President Musharraf said data would be posted on a Website and would be available to all for study and follow-up. As regards sponsorship programmes, the data would be maintained on the Website of the ERRA to ensure proper organisation and transparency and enable donors and sponsors to track their donations right up to the user level. During the meeting, it was decided that all this databasing, administrative and organisational aspects would be completed during the lean period of winters so that reconstruction can commence in top gear in the coming spring and the affected people settle before the onset of the next winter. Talking about the ongoing relief activities, President Musharraf laid emphasis on the governments of AJK and NWFP for quick disbursement of money and helping the affected people in the outlying areas in the construction of their houses for which the National Voluntary Movement is also being launched. At the end, the president expressed satisfaction over the achievements of the donors’ conference, saying that the pledges of the world community show its trust and confidence in the government of Pakistan. Brushing aside criticism from certain quarters within the country, the president said actions speak louder than words and the results of the donors’ conference are its clear manifestation. Meanwhile, an earthquake of moderate intensity jolted northern Pakistan Monday but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, officials said. The tremor measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale was the biggest to hit the country since a 6.0-magnitude shock on November 6. A total of 1,340 aftershocks have rattled the region since the October 8 disaster. “It was a moderate aftershock,” Meteorological Department official Arifullah said, adding that it was felt simultaneously in Peshawar, Abbotabad, Mansehra, Batgram and Islamabad at 1:26pm. According to preliminary analysis of the Peshawar Meteorological Station, the epicenter lied about 200 kilometres north east of Peshawar in Hazara Division. Arifullah said two mild aftershocks of 5.0 and 4.0 magnitude were felt in the same region Sunday morning.
Province and Azad Jammu and Kashmir from Rs 20 billion to Rs 80 billion. The decision to this effect was taken on recommendations from NWFP Chief Minister Muhammad Akram Durrani and AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan at a meeting of the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) and the Federal Relief Commission. The meeting, chaired by President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, was convened as a follow-up of the donors’ conference that was held on November 19 in Islamabad and was successful in raising the required donations. The meeting also discussed the revival of income opportunities, creation of industry and improving the life of people in the earthquake-hit areas, which ultimately would lead to the conversion of this “challenge into an opportunity”, as put by President Musharraf. During the meeting, it was decided that an amount of Rs 125,000 would be given for each affected house in NWFP and AJK. This amount would be in addition to the already announced amount of Rs 25,000. It was also decided at the meeting that an additional amount of Rs 25,000 would be paid as an incentive to those affected houses the owners of which would adopt the earthquake resistance standards laid down by the government. Thus every affected house will ultimately get a total amount of Rs 175,000. The matters about detailed follow-up actions for the realisation of pledges and maintaining a database were also discussed at the meeting. President Musharraf said data would be posted on a Website and would be available to all for study and follow-up. As regards sponsorship programmes, the data would be maintained on the Website of the ERRA to ensure proper organisation and transparency and enable donors and sponsors to track their donations right up to the user level. During the meeting, it was decided that all this databasing, administrative and organisational aspects would be completed during the lean period of winters so that reconstruction can commence in top gear in the coming spring and the affected people settle before the onset of the next winter. Talking about the ongoing relief activities, President Musharraf laid emphasis on the governments of AJK and NWFP for quick disbursement of money and helping the affected people in the outlying areas in the construction of their houses for which the National Voluntary Movement is also being launched. At the end, the president expressed satisfaction over the achievements of the donors’ conference, saying that the pledges of the world community show its trust and confidence in the government of Pakistan. Brushing aside criticism from certain quarters within the country, the president said actions speak louder than words and the results of the donors’ conference are its clear manifestation. Meanwhile, an earthquake of moderate intensity jolted northern Pakistan Monday but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, officials said. The tremor measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale was the biggest to hit the country since a 6.0-magnitude shock on November 6. A total of 1,340 aftershocks have rattled the region since the October 8 disaster. “It was a moderate aftershock,” Meteorological Department official Arifullah said, adding that it was felt simultaneously in Peshawar, Abbotabad, Mansehra, Batgram and Islamabad at 1:26pm. According to preliminary analysis of the Peshawar Meteorological Station, the epicenter lied about 200 kilometres north east of Peshawar in Hazara Division. Arifullah said two mild aftershocks of 5.0 and 4.0 magnitude were felt in the same region Sunday morning.PM forms MPs’ relief committee:Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Monday constituted a committee of parliamentarians to review relief and rehabilitation work in the quake-hit areas, and summoned its first meeting for Wednesday. The Parliamentary Committee headed by the prime minister himself would have eight members from the opposition and nine from the treasury. The members of the committee from the opposition benches are: Maulana Fazlur Rehman (MMA), Makhdoom Muhammad Amin Fahim (PPPP), Qazi Hussain Ahmed (MMA), Ch Nisar Ali Khan (PML-N), Imran Khan (PTI), Mehmood Khan Achakzai (PKMAP), Abdul Rauf Mengal (BNP) and Mian Raza Rabbani (ANP), while members from the treasury benches are: Ch Shujaat Hussain (PML-Q), Rao Sikandar Iqbal (PPP-P), Dr Muhammad Farooq Sattar (MQM), Justice (r) Abdul Razaque Thahim (PML-F), Munir Khan Orakzai (FATA), Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari (PML-Q), Hamid Nasir Chattha (PML-Q), Wasim Sajjad (PML-Q) and Muhammad Naseer Mengal (PML-Q). Invitations to the committee members are being sent for participation in the first meeting of the committee scheduled to be held at 5pm tomorrow.
posted by zaicha | Wednesday, November 23, 2005
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