PESHAWAR: Special Advisor to the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Yaseen Khalil has said that the 2005 earthquake and the devastated floods in 2010 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa not only resulted in loss of precious lives but these two natural disasters had also damaged the economy of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
This he said on Tuesday in a program International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction and Disability observed here at Nishtar Hall.
Yaseen Khalil said that because of the 2010 devastating flood around seven billion loses face by the province while 466 acre cultivated land was completely destroyed.
He said that the provincial government would release funds to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to established an early emergency system while all necessary steps would be taken to prevent the disaster, adding that the need of the hour is to make awareness among people to not construct houses near rivers as well as take care of their environment.
United Nations observe October 13 as International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR-Day). The objectives of the "International DRR-Day" are to spread knowledge about the importance of DRR and create awareness in communities for reducing risks to disasters. Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has decided to observe the DRR-Day, 2013 on October 8 instead of 13th in solidarity with the victims of 2005 Earthquake. On the occasion Mr.Yaseen Wali Physiotherapist at Hayatabad Special Education Centre said that because of the lack of physiotherapist in the province most of the children were became disable that can be easily saved from disabilities. He further said that 6,50,000 people were disable in Pakistan while 2.49 million people were disable in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that because of the war of terrorism were also raise the ratio of disabilities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Tribal areas. Yaseen Wali said that still in many remote areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa there were lack of special education centre for children as most of our children were deprived from their rights, adding and demanded that the government should construct special education centers on emergency basis to save the future of our children.
He demanded the government to raise the 2% quota in government institution as well as also implanted the decision on private institution.
Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority Mr.Atif-ur-Rahman said that PDMA play a very major role in last few years not only in 2005 earth quake in Pakistan but as well as in divesting flood of 2010 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He further said that PDMA also give shelter to those people who were migrated because of military operation and with donor agencies food and all facilities were provided to them, adding that the government were provided them new machinery and equipments and they were always ready for any kind of emergency situation.
