Chairman United Nations Foundation and founder of world renowned Cable Television Network (CNN) Ted Turner called Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here on Sunday and appreciated the remarkable performance of Pakistan government in rehabilitation and reconstruction work being done in the areas hit by devastating October 8 earthquake.
Ted Turner was leading a delegation which included US Senator Timothy E. Wirth President UN Foundations Mrs. Gro Harlem Brundtland former Prime Minister of Norway, Dr Nafis Sadiq Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary General, Muhammad Yunis founder of Grameen Bank and Jan Vandermoortele UNDP Resident Representative.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khusro Bakhtiar and other officials were also present in the meeting.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz briefed the delegation about the rescue, relief and rehabilitation activities in the quake-hit areas.
The Prime Minister also highlighted various development schemes being under way with the help of UN including provision of clean drinking water, fight against hepatitis, HIV AIDS and making the country polio-free.
He said Pakistan has been getting tremendous support from United Nations and other international organisations to achieve the targets of development projects for the betterment of the life of the masses.
Prime Minister appreciated the role of UN Foundation to extend financial help to the UN to help the developing countries through improving the infrastructure with the help of this Foundation, which has provided one billion dollars to UN.
Shaukat Aziz thanked the help and assistance being provided by the UN Foundation through the UN and expressed the hope that it would further improve the life of the people in the affected areas.
Referring to the regional and international situation, the Prime Minister told the delegation that Pakistan is peace loving country and wanted to promote peace in the region.
Chairman UN Foundation Ted Turner appreciating the efforts of Government of Pakistan for helping the people in the quake-hit areas said Pakistan Army and local population together with the international community have been doing wonderful job in the affected areas.
He said during his visit to quake-hit areas, he was impressed to see the work of Pakistan Army and local people who had cleaned up the debris and shops are reopening while people are busy in reconstruction of their houses.
Ted said the UN Foundation would remain involved in the reconstruction work in the quake-affected areas on long term basis.
Appreciating the leadership qualities of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Ted Turner said, "You are doing one of the best jobs of running your country. I am extremely impressed and happy."
Ted who visited quake-hit areas also appreciated the natural beauty of the country and emphasised the need to further promote the tourism sector. He described the destruction as the worst, that he had seen. He said the pace of relief work in the affected areas was impressive. The UN Foundation Chairman said his Foundation had already contributed one million dollars to the relief operation through the United Nations and would remain involved in the rehabilitation process.