Pakistan has boosted compensation for quake survivors to US$1.3 billion, two days after it secured US$5.8 billion in pledges from foreign agencies for reconstruction, a news report said yesterday.
The Dawn newspaper said the increase from the total of US$330 million was made on the recommendation of the governments of tremor-hit Northwestern Frontier Province and Kashmir on the Pakistani side at a high-level meeting in Islamabad.
Chaired by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and President Pervez Musharraf, the meeting was attended by heads of the newly formed Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority and the Federal Relief Commission to plan relief and reconstruction efforts after Saturday's donors' conference.
PHOTO: AP
Musharraf and Aziz directed the agencies to distribute 150,000 rupees (US$2,500) to each affected household in the two regions, an increase from 25,000 rupees, an unnamed official told the daily.
The officials also decided to offer an additional US$419 to people who adopt quake-resistant standards in rebuilding. The government said it has so far distributed 5.3 billion rupees (US$88.58 million) among quake victims.
According to the government's latest figures, the Oct. 8 earthquake killed 75,000 people and made 3.5 million homeless.
Many quake victims, especially those in the remote areas, have been complaining that they have received no compensation and lack relief items and shelter.
Provincial chief of the PakistanPeople's Party, Rahimdad Khan, said about 75 percent of quake survivors are living without shelter in Northwestern Frontier Province.
Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration warned that almost 75 percent of the tents delivered to the quake-hit areas of Pakistan were not suitable for severe winter conditions.
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