Relief committees set up in AJK

Azad Jammu & Kashmir government, in all its eight distracts, have formed special relief committees headed by members of AJK Legislative Assembly to help recent earthquake stricken people including those survived and rendered shelterless in Muzaffarabad, Bagh, and Rawalakot districts for their rehabilitation, official sources said here.
The sources told APP on Saturday that decision to that effect was taken at a high level meeting held in Muzaffarabad late Friday with the AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikander Hayat Khan in the chair.
The AJK cabinet ministers, advisors to the government, Chief Secretary and other top civil officials of the AJK government attended the meeting.
It was decided that besides the members of AJK Legislative Assembly, ministers would supervise relief activities in their respective constituent areas.
The meeting also decided to get manage the publication of advertisements to invite bids from private construction companies for rebuilding of Muzaffarabad and other affected areas. The private construction companies would be engaged to remove the debris. The meeting also decided to get constructed pre-fabricated houses within one-year period to pave the way for reconstruction of damaged official buildings. Some non-governmental organisations would also assist the government for rebuilding of damaged houses.
The meeting decided to dispatch relief goods including medicines, eatable items, tents and clothes by helicopters in the affected areas where direct road access had abolished because of devastating calamity. It was told in the meeting that information centres have been established in Kashmir House Islamabad and Muzaffarabad offices of the state's Chief Secretary.
The officials of AJK government have already been directed to resume their official duties in the affected areas by Monday (October 17). Disciplinary action will be initiated against the officials if remained absent from duty from stipulated day.
About some of the government vehicles reportedly stolen soon after the earthquake in Muzaffarabad and some other places, it was declared in the meeting that concerned officers, whom such vehicles were under use, would be responsible for the incidents of theft of the official vehicles.