Quake compensation amount raised to Rs 80 billion

The government on Monday increased the compensation amount for earthquake-hit NWFP and Azad Kashmir areas from Rs 20 billion to Rs 80 billion.
The decision to this effect was taken on the recommendations of the NWFP Chief Minister Muhammad Akram Durrani and AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan in a meeting of Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) and Federal Relief Commission.
The meeting, chaired by President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, was convened as a follow-up of the donors' conference and discussed the revival of income opportunities, creation of industry and also improving the life of people in the quake-hit areas, which ultimately would lead to the conversion of this challenge into opportunity.
During the meeting it was decided that an amount of Rs 125,000 would be distributed to each affected house in the NWFP and AJK. This amount would be in addition to already announced Rs 25,000.
It was also decided that an additional amount of Rs 25,000 would be paid as an incentive to those affected houses that would adopt 'the earthquake resistant standards' laid down by the government. Thus every affected house will ultimately get a total amount of Rs 175,000.
The matters about detailed follow-up actions for the realisation of pledges and maintaining a database were also discussed in the meeting.
Musharraf said that the data would be placed on the website and would be available to all for study and follow-up.
As regards sponsorship programmes, the data would be maintained on the website of ERRA. This is to ensure proper organisation and transparency and would enable donors and sponsors to track their donations right up to the user level.
During the meeting, it was decided that all this data-basing, administrative and organisational aspects would be completed during the lean period of winters so that reconstruction can commence in top gear in the coming spring and the affected people settle down before the onset of the next winter.
Talking about the ongoing relief activities, the President laid emphasis on the governments of AJK and NWFP for the quick disbursement of money and helping the affected people in the outlying areas in the construction of their houses for which National Voluntary Movement programme is also being launched.
At the end, Musharraf expressed satisfaction over the achievements of donors' conference, saying that the pledges of the world community show its trust and confidence in the Government of Pakistan.
Brushing aside the criticism from certain quarters within the country, the President said that actions speak louder than words and the results of the conference are its clear manifestation.