KARACHI, March 5: While in a bid to control public anger over the absence of government aid the Governor’s House on Tuesday claimed to have made “residential arrangements” in new Rizvia Society for blast victims, most families were unaware of any such initiative even two days after the blast destroyed their apartment buildings in Abbas Town.

Only a day ago, public reacted strongly to the absence of government officials from the blast site where the affected families and volunteers worked day and night on a self-help basis. As a result, most officials were seen making a beeline for Abbas Town on Tuesday.

Karachi Commissioner Syed Hashim Raza Zaidi, who is the focal person in this case, said that so far they had outlined 72 affected families. “But we have been contacted by only eight [families], whose accommodation we are working on, as most people had already left the area and shifted to their relatives’ place.”

However, residents living inside and near Abbas Town gave a mixed response when asked about the official help. Only one family said they had been contacted by the government, or by members of the committee formed while others had no knowledge of such an arrangement.

Mr Zaidi said that the residential area, situated in Safoora Goth, is “open for all those affected by the tragedy.” And all the expenses of food and basic resources would be taken care of by the government, he added.

For that purpose, he said, the government had formed a committee of members representing Abbas Town, who would sort out and make a list of the people affected and in need of help.

A Sindh government official, who asked not to be named, said that the residential arrangement was temporary. “Till the reconstruction of the apartments, families can live in that area for as long as they need to,” the official said, adding that most of the information regarding government response is “not factual”.

Samina Jaffer, 30, is still waiting to hear from anyone from the government committee or anyone responsible for the aid. Living near Mustafa Masjid, across Rabia Petel apartments, Samina lost her husband Mohammad Jaffer in the blast. Though the government announced a compensation for the injured and those who died simultaneously, Samina said that: “I haven’t heard from anyone as yet.”

Asked about the government initiative, Kausar Perveen, 50, a mother of three who lost her husband Mohammad Akram and her home in the tragedy on Sunday, said: “I have not been contacted by anyone as yet. As I have been outside the Mustafa Masjid since morning,” she added.

Another resident, Jawed Zaidi, 67, who ended up volunteering for people, said that the foremost reason of a delayed response by the government was the emotionally charged atmosphere. “Firstly, the police were not allowed to come inside the premises. Secondly, government officials and leaders, including Marvi Memon, who came here, were asked to go back.”

However, he said that at present, there was an excess of food and donation which was reaching most people ‘but not everyone’. Also, head of the Jafferia Disaster Management Centre Allama Shehenshah Hussain Naqvi announced that affected people would be provided home and shelter and that the expense would be taken care of by them. “All that is fine,” Mr Jawed added, “the only thing they should make sure is that it reaches everyone.”

Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Waqar Mehdi said that the government had been present from day one up until now. “The vehicles that removed the debris were from the government. And the Karachi commissioner was on the spot minutes after the blast occurred. If this is not government presence then what is?” he asked.