Pakistan Railways to carry Bodies of Train Victims to Homes   
'Pakistan Times' Staff Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Pakistan Railways Wednesday told the National Assembly that the bodies of those Pakistanis killed in Samjhota Express train tragedy would be sent to their respective places by the Pakistan Railways.

Apprising the House about the latest situation of Samjhota Express tragedy, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said, the Indian authorities had to hand over bodies of the victims to Pakistan last night "but we are awaiting this at the Wagah border."

He said five of the 11 dead have already been buried in Uttar Pardesh (UP) as these were completely charred and could not be brought back Pakistan.

The families of these dead persons also attended the funerals.

Clarifying reports being aired by different electronic channels, he said, so far 11 Pakistanis are confirmed dead in the accident, according to the information the Pakistan Railways has obtained from Indian officials.

"This is very a sensitive matter and every care and attention to be paid to this while reporting by the media," he added.

Meanwhile, he said, the officials of Pakistan Railways who were already in Delhi and Panipat were being given all assistance by the Indian authorities.

ERRA to Stay

Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) is to stay till 2010 and will not be disbanded before that time, Minister for Kashmir Affairs Tahir Iqbal Wednesday informed the National Assembly.

During the Question Hour, he said that the land for shifting of three worst earthquake affected cities - Muzaffarabad, Balakot and Bagh - is being acquired where construction will be completed in another five years.

Tahir said the feasibility study of the cities has been completed while the land for Balakot was acquired but it was found to be unsuitable for construction.

"Soil analysis showed that the land acquired for Balakot had granite underneath and developing a new city there was not feasible," he said.

The minister said the construction of the houses in the earthquake affected areas will be completed by the end of 2008.

He said Rs 50 billion has been earmarked this year for the construction of houses and those whose lands were also destroyed in the earthquake will be given additional Rs 75,000.

So far, he added, Rs 170 billion has been spent in the affected areas, out which Rs 34 billion was given for the construction of houses.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sher Afgan said out of the 3.5 million earthquake affectees, only 33,000 displaced persons at present were lodged in camps.

He informed the House that ERRA was not constructing the houses rather it was the responsibility of the affected persons who have been given cash for the purpose.

In reply to a question, he said by January this year Rs 219.981 million has been incurred the administrative expenditures and salaries of ERRA staff since it was established in October 2005.

Sher Afgan said all the foreign teams working in the earthquake affected areas have gone back as they were no more needed and the local authorities have taken over all the reconstruction and rehabilitation work.

The house was informed that National Accountability Bureau (NAB), on the recommendation of its welfare committee, grants monetary compensation of Rs 100,000 to its employees for extra-ordinary performance.

Export Incentives

Minister of State for Commerce Hamid Yar Hiraj said to give export incentives to the textile industry and make local textile products more competitive in international market, the prime minister has constituted a committee, which he also heads.

Replying to a question, he said the textile industry in Pakistan has reached a point of sustainability and that is why the import of machinery is decreasing.

In response to another question, he said the trade volume between Pakistan and Ireland during 2005-06 was 82.02 million dollars.

Pakistan's major exports to Ireland include cotton fabrics, made up articles of textile material, clothing and textile fabrics, carpets and rugs, medical and surgical instruments.

Pakistan's imports from Ireland include machinery and parts, chemicals, iron and steel.

Minister for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar said the percentage of increase in foreign debt and liabilities of outstanding stock on June 30, 2006 was 5.73 percent primarily due to the loans availed for earthquake and issuance of euro bonds.

The net domestic loan obtained during the period January-June 2006 was Rs 13.2 billion.●