Development process cannot be stopped fearing of natural disasters: Pervaiz Rashid

Lahore: Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid Friday said that country’s development process could not be stopped fearing of any natural disaster.

“The development process cannot be stopped out of any fear. We have to live in Pakistan and take it forward. This is a country of mine and yours too,” the minister said talking to media along with Chairman National Disaster Management Authority Major General Asghar Nawaz.

He said, “by facing dangers, we have to explore new development courses to pave way for national progress and prosperity.”

The minister said that various countries were situated at fault lines but they had not stopped their development process out of any fear, adding that the government was ready to tackle the disasters. He said the earthquakes have also hit the USA and Japan but the countries kept up their development process.

To a question, the minister said the construction of new roads from Kashghar to Gwadar under  China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would help respond to any disaster even more effectively as any untoward situation could be better tackled if good infrastructure is in place. He said soon after the earthquake, the Prime Minister visited the affected areas of Shangla, Chitral and Dasu to personally monitor the relief activities there.

On the occasion, Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Maj Gen Asghar Nawaz said that the government has started payment of compensation to earthquake-hit families as the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has released Rs 2833.70 million.  He said the rescue operation has almost completed while verification was in progress to compensate the affected families.

The NDMA Chairman said that compensation of House is planned to be disbursed from Monday (November 02).

Commencement of compensation process would help early construction of the damages houses, he said, adding, five teams were working in each Union Council to collect data and verify damages. The NDMA Chairman said 269 persons died and 2227 were injured due  to earthquake and most of deaths were reported from Malakand division where total 35,492 houses were also damaged.

Giving the breakup, he said some 222 deaths and 1860 injured were reported from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, while 30 people had lost their lives in FATA besides injuries to 211.  Asghar Nawaz said as many as 2,120 injured were treated in the government’s hospitals and occupancy in the hospitals remained below 30 per cent. Some 276 injured were still admitted in the hospitals. He said he had personally visited the affected areas and mostly, the women and children lost their lives in the earthquake. He said some eight helicopters, three C-130, two fokkers were taking part in the relief operation.

Regarding communication infrastructure, Maj Gen Asghar said that all roads of the National Highway Authority were open and operational. He informed that 67 after-shocks had been reported after the earthquake. The NDMA Chairman said the Authority was also creating awareness among the people through SMS alerts

besides issuing weather advisory. Regarding cellular towers, Maj Gen Asghar said the Zong, Mobilink, Uphone and Warid have 17590, 3903, 3765 and 7,934 towers in the quake-hit areas respectively.  The Authority has so far provided 15,550 blankets, 8,750 tents, 3,500 plastic mats, 14,000 tarpaulin shelters, 11 tons food packs and 14 tons of bottled water to the victims.

Replying to a question, he said, it was also decided to store maximum stock at Tehsil level keeping in view the harsh weather.