02-23-2006, 06:20 AM
Constitution allows army to take over responsibilities in emergencies: Maj Gen Farooq
ISLAMABAD: Federal Relief Commissioner Major General Farooq has said that constitution allows army to take over the responsibilities to tackle the emergency situation and Pakistan army held the charge of relief activities in earthquake-hit areas as the whole civil administration had been wiped out.
He stated this while addressing a two-day workshop on "Transparent Utilization of Earthquake Reconstruction Fund," here on Tuesday.
He said that as many as one billion rupees in president relief fund had been received so far and government would take all possible initiatives to avoid the corruption in the second phase of reconstruction.
He said that government had chalked out a comprehensive strategy and mechanism to utilize funds and would take all stakeholders and partners into confidence to articulate the strategy of reconstruction.
He said that earthquake in Pakistan on Oct 8, 2005 had resulted in devastation to the great magnitude and as many as 73 thousand human lives had been lost.
He further said that 128 thousand people had sustained serious injuries in the earthquake and eighteen thousand children had feared dead and added that the whole infrastructure including civil administration had been damaged.
"35 percent telecom sector, 70 percent electricity infrastructure was destroyed and 574 health units were smashed in the earthquake areas and army was to handle the situation as no civil administration was left in these areas to address the problems of the masses," he added.
He informed that the army with the cooperation of different organizations had provided 866686 tents, 317631 shelters, 5424593 blankets and 17964 tons medicines to the earthquake affected people.
Hinting at the corruption, he said that it was necessary to wipe it out and government was taking all possible measures to ensure the transparency regarding the utilization of funds in reconstruction process.
"The measures will be taken to raise awareness among the people about it and all resources will be materialized to ensure the implementation of policies regarding the reconstruction process in the quake-hit areas," he said.
ISLAMABAD: Federal Relief Commissioner Major General Farooq has said that constitution allows army to take over the responsibilities to tackle the emergency situation and Pakistan army held the charge of relief activities in earthquake-hit areas as the whole civil administration had been wiped out.
He stated this while addressing a two-day workshop on "Transparent Utilization of Earthquake Reconstruction Fund," here on Tuesday.
He said that as many as one billion rupees in president relief fund had been received so far and government would take all possible initiatives to avoid the corruption in the second phase of reconstruction.
He said that government had chalked out a comprehensive strategy and mechanism to utilize funds and would take all stakeholders and partners into confidence to articulate the strategy of reconstruction.
He said that earthquake in Pakistan on Oct 8, 2005 had resulted in devastation to the great magnitude and as many as 73 thousand human lives had been lost.
He further said that 128 thousand people had sustained serious injuries in the earthquake and eighteen thousand children had feared dead and added that the whole infrastructure including civil administration had been damaged.
"35 percent telecom sector, 70 percent electricity infrastructure was destroyed and 574 health units were smashed in the earthquake areas and army was to handle the situation as no civil administration was left in these areas to address the problems of the masses," he added.
He informed that the army with the cooperation of different organizations had provided 866686 tents, 317631 shelters, 5424593 blankets and 17964 tons medicines to the earthquake affected people.
Hinting at the corruption, he said that it was necessary to wipe it out and government was taking all possible measures to ensure the transparency regarding the utilization of funds in reconstruction process.
"The measures will be taken to raise awareness among the people about it and all resources will be materialized to ensure the implementation of policies regarding the reconstruction process in the quake-hit areas," he said.