Altaf Hamid Rao:
Rehabilitation, reconstruction work to be completed in 3-phases: AJK PM
MIRPUR: Prime Minister Imran Khan visited earthquake-hit Mirpur city on Monday and reviewed progress on the ongoing relief and rehabilitation activities, carried out by Azad Jammu and Kashmir Government with the coordination of federal Government.
During his visit to the lake view city, PM Khan went to Divisional Headquarters Hospital to enquire after the well-being of those injured in September 24 earthquake that jolted the city and adjoining areas. The PM was briefed about the ongoing relief and rescue operations in the quake-affected areas. He was also apprised about the material losses, caused to thousands of private and public buildings in Mirpur city and adjoining areas.
Earlier, the Prime Minister of Pakistan was received at the helipad by the AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan, AJK Health Minister Dr Najeeb Naqi and senior officials of AJK government and Mirpur Division Administration including Commissioner Muhammad Tayyeb, DIG Police Mirpur Sardar Gulfraz Khan, SSP Raja Irfan Saleem, DC Tahir Mumtaz Raja, Additional Secretary AJK Masood ur Rehman, SPs including Raja Azhar Iqbal and Raja Akmal Khan, senior MDA Official Mirza Kaleem Jiraal and others.END
During the briefing the Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider Khan said that rehabilitation and reconstruction work in quake hit areas of the state would be completed in three phases. Raja Farooq Haider Khan said rehabilitation and reconstruction work in the earthquake affected areas of Mirpur is the first and foremost priority of the state government.
He expressed profound gratitude to Pak Army and National Disaster Management Authority for extending full cooperation in rescue and relief operation in quake hit areas of Azad Kashmir.
The Prime Minister while criticizing the Muzaffarabad City Development Project (MCDP) stated that government had not fulfilled its responsibility due to which these projects couldn’t be completed till now. “This experience would not be repeated this time”, he added.
Raja Farooq Haider Khan while lauding Prime Minister Imran Khan’s speech at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) expressed profound gratitude to him. “The Prime Minister has effectively pleaded the case of Kashmir in UN”, he appreciated.
“We have strong hope that government of Pakistan would continue to extend its full support to the earthquake affectees for their proper rehabilitation and reconstruction as it done in past”. Haider added.
The Prime Minister said that many areas of Azad Kashmir are situated in seismic zone. “The state faced heavy human and materialistic loss in earthquake 2005. The experience of rehabilitation and reconstruction work would be fully utilized in the present situation with strict implementation on building code.” He stated.
He hoped that government of Pakistan would take special measures for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the quake hit areas of the state.
The Prime Minister thanked people and government of Pakistan for their generous support in rescue and relief operation in devastated areas of Azad Kashmir.
