Relief activities in the Punjab province have gained momentum as a large number of social, political, religious and welfare organisations set up relief camps across the province to collecting commodities for earthquake victims.
According to a survey conducted by Business Recorder, people from all walks of life are playing their role in relief activities. School children, traders, employees and people from other walks of life remained busy in donating relief goods including medicines, food items, cloths and blankets at various relief camps.
According to reports reaching here from various parts of the province, collection of relief goods has reached at its climax but the main concern is dispatching of these goods to the earthquake victims. A number of government organisations including Punjab Police, Red Crescent and district governments have also set up relief camps in the province.
Employees of State Bank of Pakistan are sending a truck of relief goods to quake hit area in Muzaffarabad on Wednesday.
Labour Party Pakistan has already dispatched two trucks of relief goods to affected areas.
A number of religious parties including Jamaat-ut-Dawah, Jamaat-i-Islami and Minhaj-ul-Quran claimed their workers have reached to affected areas and have started providing medical facilities as well as food items to the victims.
According to some reports, around 300 trucks carrying relief goods left here for quake hit areas.
Wapda employees have announced to contribute one-day salary for the rehabilitation of earthquake victims. Wapda has deposited a cheque amounting to Rs 13.57 million in the President's Relief Fund. Chairman Wapda Tariq Hamid said Wapda was providing technical and logistic support to government of AJK for speedy restoration of power system in the affected areas.
Central Depository Company (CDC) of Pakistan Limited has pledged Rs 10 million towards victims of the earthquake which hit different parts of the country. The management and employees of CDC have volunteered to donate one day's salary towards the same cause.
Kot Adu Power Company Limited has announced a donation of Rs 50 million in President's Relief Fund. The employees of the company have also contributed Rs one million to the Fund.
Warid Telecom has decided to announce Rs 120 million for the people affected by this devastating earthquake. The company has also set up relief camps to collect relief goods.
An official in Edhi relief camp set up at Cavalry ground said people were providing relief goods and cash amount with great spirit.
Muhammad Yousaf Baloch, a representative of National Traders Federation said over Rs 300,000 had been collected during one and half day. He said people from every walk of life were contributing in this fund generously.
Farooq Tariq of Labour Party said transporters had increased their fares, as they were paying Rs 17,000 per truck for Rawala Kot. He said that tent manufacturers had also increased the prices of their products, which was unfortunate.
Qudsia Lodhi, provincial minister said Punjab government was carrying out relief operation in a systematic manner.
All Pakistan Contractors Association has also announced to send relief trucks to affected areas besides providing technical support to government for reconstruction of affected areas. Akbar Sheikh, a leader of the association, said efforts were underway to construct at least 5,000 houses in affected areas.