Pakistani Astronaut offers services to rebuild Quake-hit Areas
'Pakistan Times' National News Desk

RAWALPINDI: President Pervez Musharraf has lauded the services of Namira Salim, first Pakistani astronaut, saying that she is symbol of the abilities and capabilities of Pakistani women to perform well in any field of endeavour.

The President was talking to Namira Salim when she called on him here on Wednesday.

The President congratulated her on qualifying as first Pakistani astronaut and on hoisting the National Flag at the South Pole, which raised the image of Pakistan.

During the meeting, Namira also presented to the President her Sub-Orbital Spaceflight Training Certificate which she recently completed at the NASTAR centre in the United States which makes her the only Pakistani to have qualified to go to space.

Earlier, Namira Salim also called on Deputy Chairman ERRA Lt-Gen Nadeem Ahmed and offered her services to contribute to the ongoing efforts for reconstruction and rehabilitation in the earthquake affected areas of AJK and NWFP.

She said that a number of people abroad had contacted her and expressed their willingness to contribute to the reconstruction efforts.

The Deputy Chairman told her that a number of philanthropists, both individuals as well as corporations, from within the country and abroad, besides a number of international organizations and INGOs and NGOs are contributing to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the affected people.

He informed her of the procedure that ERRA follows in case of such contributions.

Gen Nadeem thanked Namira for her sentiments for the people rendered homeless in the aftermath of October 8, 2005 earthquake.

It may be mentioned here that Namira Salim is the first Pakistani who has done the double — both North and South Poles. In the South Pole, she climbed the highest peak in Patriot Hills in sub-zero temperatures.●