Quake-hit families given financial support in Azad Kashmir
'Pakistan Times' Kashmir Desk

ISLAMABAD: The three earthquake hit families of Dhirkot, Azad Kashmir were given Rs. 75,000 each for purchasing land.

Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan and Deputy Chairman Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) Lt. Gen. Nadim Ahmed distributed the amount.

These families and hundreds of other lost their lands in the October 2005 earthquake that triggered flash floods and massive land-sliding.

The ERRA Council in February this year announced a financial package for the affected families of AJK and NWFP.

The AJK Prime Minister commended ERRA, UN-Habitat and Land Verification Unit for supporting the quake-hit families.

“I am happy that this policy is in place in all quake-hit areas,” Sardar Attique said, adding Government would ensure that all affectees are rehabilitated.

Lt. Gen. Nadim said ERRA was determined to provide this grant to all those who lost their lands. He said these families would also be given Rs. 1,50,000 to enable them build homes.

So far, the ERRA Chairman said, upto 300 families had been given the grant under the scheme while 1500 more families would get financial support.●