MIRPUR: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday visited earthquake-hit Mirpur city of Kashmir and reviewed the ongoing relief activities.
He also visited Mirpur Divisional Headquarters Hospital to inquire after the well-being of those injured in the September 24 earthquake that jolted Mirpur city and adjoining areas.
He was accompanied by state Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi, Kashmir Affairs Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Kashmir Chapter) President Barrister Sultan Mahmoud Chaudhry.
The prime minister also attended a presentation at the Quaid-i-Azam International Sports Stadium, held by the National Disaster Management Authority and the provincial government.
He was briefed about the relief and rescue operations conducted by the Pakistan and provincial governments.
Imran was also apprised about the material losses caused to thousands of private and public buildings in the Mirpur city and adjoining areas.
The prime minister assured the government of Pakistan’s full support for quake-hit areas.
“Kashmiris are our own people,” he said, “They would do whatever they could to help them in these hard times.”
The most affected areas of Kashmir included Mirpur, Jatlaan, Nogaraan and Bhimber District.
According to estimates, severe damage was incurred to the road sector (Rs1.4 billion, Dh32.7 million), electricity (Rs40 million), agriculture and livestock (Rs53 million), health (Rs70 million) and education (Rs103 million).
Total initial estimate of damages stood at Rs2.7 billion including local government (Rs57 million), physical planning and housing (Rs750 million) and prisons (Rs200 million).
The damage to Upper Jhelum Canal will be worked out by the Government of Punjab.
The prime minister also undertook an aerial survey of the quake-hit areas to examine the magnitude of the damages and losses.
