QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said on Thu­rs­day that all resources would be utilised for the rehabilitation of earthquake-stricken people of Awaran district.

Addressing a seminar jointly organised by the UK-Aid and Hands, a non-governmental organisation, on the first anniversary of the earthquake that left over 500 people dead and 42,000 homeless in Awaran, the chief minister said that compensation cheques had alrea­­dy been distributed among 8,000 quake-hit people.

He said each family had been given a cheque for Rs70,000 as the first instalment, adding that a total of Rs220,000 would be paid in three instalments.

Mr Baloch said that 16,000 houses would be built for quake survivors.

Know more: Rs4bn for rebuilding houses in Awaran

“We are providing financial help to all affected families to construct their houses on their own,” he said. “We have not forgotten the earthquake-affected people of Awaran and will continue to help them till their rehabilitation process is completed.”

He said that soon after the calamity struck the area, his government launched a rescue and relief operation and thousands of precious lives were saved with the help of the Army, FC and other organisations.

“I, along with ministers and secretaries and the chief secretary, spent several weeks to monitor the relief operations,” he said, adding that over 1,000 trucks of relief goods had been dispatched to Awaran and no complaint of corruption, mismanagement and misappropriation of funds was reported.

“We had made it clear to everyone involved in the relief and rescue operation that if anybody was found guilty of embezzlement of relief goods, a case of terrorism will be registered against him,” he said.

The chief minister regretted that despite positive steps taken by the coalition government, a propaganda campaign had been launched against it. “Some people want to make Awaran earthquake a political issue and malign the government and its leaders, but the government is sincere and determined to help all people hit by the earthquake.” He said some people who had not even visited Awaran were hurling criticism on the provincial government.

Balochistan Assembly Deputy Speaker Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, MPAs Yasmeen Lehri, Samina Khan, Nipa Director General Zafar Qadir, Prince Ahmed Ali Baloch and others also spoke.

Hands, the NGO, announced that 4,500 houses would be built.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2014