Attique thanks Int`l community for rehabilitation assistance
22 May, 2007
MUZAFFARABAD: Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan has said that the gigantic tasks of post earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation have been immensely facilitated by the International Community particularly of nations friendly to Pakistan and Kashmiris.
Giving his overall post quake reconstruction activities review and regional scenario to an International delegation comprising Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) representatives who called on him on Tuesday in PM House, he said that almost half of AJK stood devastated by the earthquake of 2005.
"Today I repeat my profound gratitude to China, UK, Saudi Arabia, USAID, Turkey, Germany, UAE and Qatar for their solid assistance. China is rebuilding Muzaffarabad city at a cost of $ 300 million, UK has doubled its aid to 480 million pound, Saudi Arabia is reconstructing two devastated districts headquarter and King Abdul Aziz University at a cost of $ 800 million", he added.
The Prime Minister said USAID is to train over 25,000 teachers, turkey is to rebuild Muzaffarabad district headquarters at a cost of $ 400 million, Germany, UAE and Qatar had rushed their aid in time.
Commenting on Kashmir issue, he said that with the passage of time the number of parties to the dispute of Kashmir has increased. China is an international power having contiguity with Kashmir. She is friendliest to Pakistan and has been advocating the cause of Kashmir under all circumstances, he maintained.
Recently, he said, "Pakistan and China made a free trade agreement, which is most beneficial for the economic growth of this entire region".
Replying a question, the Prime Minister AJK admitted that in the 1963 Border Accord between Pakistan and China there is a provision that following the resolution of the Kashmir dispute But, he added, it should not be missed by any one that Pakistan-China friendship is deeper than Indian Ocean and taller than the peaks of Himalayan.
Replying to another question, Sardar Attique clarified that when the people of Kashmir talk of their state they invariably mean the State of Jammu and Kashmir, as it existed among 565 princely states in British days. He remained that in the recent past the veteran Kashmir leader Sardar Abdul Qayum Khan had a very successful tour of China. He had held interactions with the Chinese think tanks during his visit.
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