News
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Government unveils Hunza aid package* PM announces Rs 200,000 for those who have lost their land, Rs 400,000 for completely damaged houses
* Each family to get Rs 5,000 monthly for 6 monthsBy Tahir Niaz
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani unveiled a package on Wednesday to provide compensation to the people affected by the Attaabad lake in Hunza.
Announcing the package at a news conference, the prime minister said Rs 200,000 each would be given to all those who had lost their land, Rs 400,000 for completely damaged houses and Rs 160,000 for partially damaged houses.
Gilani said each family affected would get a monthly cash grant of Rs 5,000 for six months. The prime minister said the wheat and flour stocked in Upper Hunza by the government of Gilgit-Baltistan would be distributed free of cost to the victims for two months in accordance with the existing scales.
He said the Pakistan Baitul Maal will provide an additional Rs 100,000 to owners of the 171 submerged houses of Ainabad, Shishkat and Gulmit. The Utility Stores Corporation will also establish sales points at Gulmit and Sust immediately. Free food would be provided for three months to those who have been cut off from the rest of the population due to damaged roads, he added.
Gilani said necessary funds will be immediately provided to the Gilgit-Baltistan government for implementation of the package, while the National Disaster Management Authority will also provide necessary support in this regard.
The prime minister directed the Gilgit-Baltistan government to establish an education assistance fund to finance students studying outside Gilgit-Baltistan for two semesters. He also said the 22-kilometre portion of the Karakoram Highway submerged in the lake would be constructed when the situation stabilises. Necessary instructions had been issued to the Communication Ministry for the purpose, he added.
Responding to criticism that he did not announce the package during his recent visit to Hunza, Gilani said that would have been premature before a need and damage assessment. He said the NDMA chairman remained in Hunza for about a week and prepared recommendations in consultations with all stakeholders.
He said the government was focusing on the situation in Attaabad and had taken necessary measures to mitigate sufferings of the victims.
Gilani said compensation worth Rs 10.7 million had been paid to the dead and injured, while the federal government has allocated Rs 100 million for relief efforts to the Gilgit-Baltistan government. He said a 24-metre deep and 45-metre wide spillway was completed by the Frontier Works Organisations by May 15 for Rs 80 million, substantially reducing the risk for the downstream population.
The prime minister informed that an early warning system has been put in place and food supplies worth Rs 50 million have already been provided and an additional supply worth Rs 55 million is in the pipeline.
He said food and non-food support worth Rs 45 million has been provided by the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, UN agencies, the Agha Khan Foundation and non-governmental organisations.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk