Crisis Management Cell
in Washington
Washington,
DC: A Pakistan Embassy press release issued on Saturday reads:
Today the worst ever earthquake in the history of Pakistan
caused widespread damage to the lives and properties in Punjab,
NWFP, Tribal Areas and Kashmir. The intensity of the earthquake
measured 7.6 degrees on the Richter scale. The death toll
is estimated in thousands.
The entire Government machinery has been mobilized to speed
up the relief operations throughout the disaster hit areas.
President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz
are personally monitoring rescue and relief operations. The
President has also directed the Pakistan Army and the Air
Force to provide assistance to the civil administration in
the earthquake stricken areas.
President’s
Relief Fund has been established with an initial allocation
of Rs. 1 billion by the Government to provide assistance to
the affectees of the massive disaster. The President and the
Prime Minister have appealed to the Pakistanis and overseas
Pakistanis to donate generously in the President’s Relief
Fund.
An Earthquake Relief Cell has also been established in the
Prime Minister’s Secretariat which will work under the
direct supervision of the Prime Minister.
The US Department of State immediately responded to the tragedy
and offered US Government’s assistance to Pakistan for
the relief of the affectees.
The Embassy of Pakistan in Washington D.C. has established
a Crisis Management Cell to provide round the clock consular
services to the Pakistanis and Pakistani-Americans who wish
to travel to Pakistan. The Cell is also coordinating the travel
of relief teams to Pakistan. The Cell will be providing information
on damage and rescue operations.
Charge
d’Affaires Mohammad Sadiq has appealed to the Pakistani
community to contribute generously to help their Pakistani
brothers and sisters in this hour of need. The Embassy has
opened a designated account to receive donations for the President’s
Relief Fund. Donations can be sent to the Embassy of Pakistan,
3517 International Court, NW, Washington, DC 20008. Checks
should be made payable to the President’s Relief Fund.
All donations made by the community organizations and individuals
will be announced on the Embassy’s website.
Pakistani organizations including Association of Pakistani
Physicians of North America(APPNA), Rising Leaders, Pakistan
Public Affairs Committee (PAKPAC), Council of Pakistani-Americans
(COPAA), Pakistani-American Leadership Council (PAL-C) and
several other community organizations are also doing the fund
raising.
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