BALAKOT, Oct 19: President Gen Pervez Musharraf assured the October 8 earthquake victims on Wednesday that relief aid arriving from around the world would definitely flow into the quake-stricken areas.

He said that the government was striving for earliest procurement of tents to shield affected people from harsh winter.

“Whatever aid is reaching is for you, plus the government is putting into use all national resources to mitigate your sufferings,” he told quake-hit people during his visits to the northern parts of the Frontier province.

Speaking to the affected people of Balakot, one of the worst-hit places by the earthquake, the president vowed to overcome the shortage of tents.

He said efforts were underway to provide shelter to people rendered homeless in the deadly earthquake that has claimed over 42,000 lives in an area sprawling over 20,000 square kilometres.

“We are getting tents from around the world and I am sure they will be supplied in large numbers within a couple of weeks,” said the president, who stayed overnight at Muzaffarabad, the severely damaged capital of adjoining Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

On accessing the stranded people in the remaining cut-off areas, he said that the army had fanned out across the devastated mountainous regions to reach the affected people in remote areas and provide them relief goods and medical treatment.

“We are doing our best to access all areas and animal transport regiment of the army has been moved to ferry relief goods to the people through difficult routes,” he said.

Visiting a camp, President Musharraf affectionately met with children and told them that the government would do everything to carve out a bright future for them.

He encouraged men and women to remain steadfast in the face of the natural calamity and held out a firm assurance of making all out efforts for early redress of their suffering.

The president also visited a field hospital set up by the United Arab Emirates in Balakot and enquired about recovery of the victims under treatment there.

On an elderly man’s complaint of instances of looting relief goods, the president said that the government would ensure that such incidents did not recur.

On the return of trucks loaded with relief goods, he said that the government had taken a strong exception to reports that relief goods-laden trucks were returning from the affected areas without delivering the supplies.

“We will not allow this to happen, no truck will be allowed to return without offloading relief goods,” President Musharraf said.

He said the government had established the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority to accomplish the colossal task of rebuilding destroyed structures and lives.

“We will endeavour to build fire- and quake-proof houses. We will build schools, colleges and hospitals on modern lines to improve the lives of the affected people.”

The President said that relief activities had been stepped up and assistance was now reaching the people in the previously cut-off areas.

However, he asked the people to remain steadfast and show patience, saying that aid would definitely reach them but the reconstruction stage would take years to complete.

Answering a question, the president appreciated that volunteers and private organizations were contributing badly-needed tents, but renewed his call for coordinating all efforts with 45 round-the-clock operative points of the army to ensure earliest supplies to the places requiring assistance.

The president was briefed about rescue and relief efforts at the regional army headquarters.

He also visited Battgram and Hazara and, addressing the affected people there, expressed grief over heavy losses of lives and property.

The government, he said, was utilizing all national resources to bring an end to difficulties being faced by quake-hit people in cold weather, and pledged to provide shelter to all.

Addressing the troops engaged in relief operations in Battgram, the president appreciated their round-the-clock services.

“You should reach the people in the far-flung areas even if you have to walk on foot,” he told them while lauding their untiring efforts.

President Musharraf also addressed Peshawar Corps troops and praised their spirit in providing relief to the affected people in difficult areas.

“I am confident that you will keep up your glorious traditions and rise to the challenge of mammoth proportions,” he said.

Later, the president flew back to Islamabad after a two-day visit during which he visited quake-devastated areas of the NWFP and Azad Kashmir to assess relief operations.

Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, Governor NWFP Commander Khalilur Rehman, Corps Commander Peshawar Lt-Gen Hamid Khan and senior military officers overseeing relief operations accompanied the president during visits to quake-hit areas of the NWFP. —APP