By Aneesa Malik
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that the implementation of the relief package announced by him has started, stated a report from Radio Pakistan.
The relief package will provide monetary compensation to people who were injured or lost their family members in the earthquake, and also to those whose houses were either destroyed or damaged in the earthquake.
The prime minister was addressing affected families at Dasu in district Kohistan.
Owners of houses destroyed will get Rs200,000 and partially damaged Rs100,000, according to the announcement made by premier Nawaz.
“The federal and the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) will pay Rs600,000 to the next of kin of those who lost their life in this tragedy,” said the Prime Minister.
“The affected people will be provided all necessary relief goods, including tents, blankets and food items,” added the prime minister.
The premier also stated on the occasion that relief goods would also be provided through the use of helicopters in areas which are inaccessible by land routes in the district of Kohistan.
He directed all relevant authorities to open blocked routes in the district through the use of heavy machinery, added the report from Radio Pakistan.
The worst quake-hit areas are in remote mountainous regions. Pakistan’s disaster management authority said it has distributed 28,219 tents, 35,700 blankets and tons of food among quake victims.
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister was briefed on the situation in the district. He was accompanied by the chief minister of KP and Pervaiz Rashid.
Eight people were killed in Dasu due to the earthquake.
Earlier Dawn reported that the Prime Min¬ister Nawaz Sharif unveiled a relief package for people in KP, Fata and Gilgit-Baltistan affected by the powerful earthquake.
Under the package, Rs600,000 will be paid to the family of each dead, Rs100,000 to the injured and Rs200,000 in case of permanent disability.
A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck major cities of Pakistan, including the northern areas, leaving more than 200 dead and more than 1,000 injured due to building collapses, landslides, stampedes and other quake related incidents.
