Post-December 27 losses: chief secretary asked to expedite settlement of claims

Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister former justice Abdul Qadir Halepota is reported to have asked Sindh Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman to hasten submission of report on damage assessment after the December 27, 2007 incident.
After the assignation of Pakistan Peoples Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto on December 27, 2007, disturbances that had erupted all over Pakistan affected Sindh badly.
The Sindh government has set up a committee to assess the losses to public and private property. This committee will determine compensation to industrial units and individuals, in cash and kind - to swab their wounds.
Industry sources said that Karachi was the worst sufferer among all the places for none of its faults. People of the city and its industrial network suffered losses in billions of rupees.
They said that the committee to assess the damages set up under the supervision of Captain Usman Isani (Retd) was slow in its proceedings and was not likely to reach conclusion even by the end of February, mandatory period for submission of the report within 30 days beginning from January 28.
Sources said that claim, submitted by the industrial sector and by the citizens, in their individual capacity, should be collected separately and assessed separately so that the entire exercise could be completed in time.
They said that the restoration of peace in industrial area was necessary to keep business going as usual. They said that those industrialists, who had invited customers from abroad to finalise deals, had rescheduled their meetings and were busy in making their units look presentable.
Though the industrialist refused to come up with their estimates of losses, they, however, indicated it in billions of rupees. "We want to listen from the committee, set up to determine the losses and to decide schedule for compensation before we react to their assessment." Industry sources said that affected people had made insurance claims, but the processing was taking time.