Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that following the damage assessment a compensation package would soon be announced for the Hunza lake affectees and assured funds from the federal government on priority. Gilani who is here on a day-long visit to assess the situation caused by the landsliding at Attaabad and the blockage of the Hunza river, said it was important to turn challenges into opportunities.
He prayed for those killed in the natural calamity and appreciated the courage with which the people braved the disaster. He said it was a temporary phase and they would be able to return to their homes soon. He said the 22-km stretch of damaged portion of Karakoram Highway would be repaired as soon as the water recedes. He also promised generation of economic activity so that the people who have suffered financial loss may stand up on their feet.
Prime Minister Gilani regretted the delay in disbursement of the funds for the Gilgit Baltistan and assured that allocations would be made for the people in the budget. He said government was committed to empower the people, and particularly the women and would do all to remove their sense of deprivation. He said the smart cards under the Benazir Income Support Programme would help the people meet their basic needs. He said the government of Pakistan Peoples Party would ensure that the promises made to the people by Shaheeds Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto would be kept and they would soon witness a positive change in their lives.
He regretted that due to bad weather he could not visit earlier and said he however kept in touch with the authorities about measures to drain the lake and relief activities. The lake was created on January 4 as a huge landslide blocked the flow of Hunza river and carried along with it the Attaabad village. The artificial lake has stretched back to 23 km, submerging a number of low-lying villages, destroying crops and fruit trees.
Estimates put the volume at around 100,000 acre feet and was rising daily as increasing summer heat melted the glaciers upstream. Prime Minister, accompanied by Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, also had an aerial view of the artificial lake and the affected areas.
He was informed that the boat service has been stopped and stranded people would be ferried through helicopters and supplies dropped. Earlier he was received at the airport by Governor Gilgit Baltistan, Chief Minister and Federal Minister in charge.
Earlier Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed briefed the Prime Minister about the situation and measures taken to address any eventuality, soon after his arrival in Gilgit. According to his estimates water will start flowing over the 24 meter deep and 1300 meter long spillway created by the Frontier Works Organisation by May 25 and said arrangements have been made for 24,000 IDPs from 32 villages.
He said camps have been set up at government schools and arrangements made to provide them food, shelter and medical assistance. He said those killed in the landsliding have been paid a compensation of Rs 0.5 million each, while Rs 100,000 provided for the injured. This total amount of Rs 10.2 million was distributed amongst families of 6 missing, 3 killed and 7 injured people.
The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of the FWO, the NDMA and other agencies and volunteers that made hectic efforts to provide relief to the affected people. He visited the Control Room and the IDP camp to see arrangements for the displaced people. He met the people and assured that the government would take all steps to take care of them in their hour of need. Gilani also inaugurated the Benazir Langar at the relief camps of Hunza Nagar and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), established for the Internally Displaced Persons of Hunza Lake, by Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal.
He appreciated the swift arrangements made by the Managing Director PBM Zamurd Khan in this regard. Gilani was informed that some 50 truckloads had been dispatched from Islamabad, that would reach Gilgit in two or three days. He said milk, sweets and toys would also be provided to the children sheltering in the camps.
A Press Release issued by PM Media Office adds: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani after the visit of Hunza on Friday, has directed the Cabinet Division to provide additional relief items including tents, generators and food items costing Rs 55.125 million to the affected/displaced people of Hunza due to massive land slide in Attaabad, resulting in formation of lake. These relief items will be in addition to the goods worth Rs 51.523 million already provided to the affected/displaced people of Hunza.
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