BARIKOT: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited Tehsil Barikot on Saturday and expressed satisfaction over the pace of relief and compensation efforts in the earthquake affected areas of Swat.
Nawaz also disbursed the compensation cheques among the residents of the areas which were affected due to the massive quake on October 26.
The prime minister lauded the efforts of all stakeholders — including federal, provincial, district and local administration and the armed forces — for carrying out rescue and relief operations in areas which were badly affected in the natural disaster that jolted various parts of the country including Malakand division.
“We should thank Almighty Allah for saving the country from large scale destruction because the tremors were massive,” the premier said.
PM said he immediately met with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, the governor and his adviser Amir Muqam, in the aftermath of the calamity and called for prompt compensation for the affected populace of various areas in the province.
“The relief and compensation work should be completed before the setting of harsh winter in these areas,” the premier maintained.
The prime minister also announced the construction of Chakdara-Kalam road on the demand of Amir Muqam and residents of Barikot. He told the gathering that the quality of the newly constructed road would match that of the motorway.
Swat was a terrorism-infested area in the past but following a successful operation it got rid of this menace, the premier recalled, adding that the ongoing operation against the terrorism was successful.
He assured that by November 17, all the affected people would get the compensation amount. Nawaz lauded the district coordination officer for his efforts to distribute compensation cheques prior to the set deadline.
Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, KP Governor Sardar Mehtab Abbasi and other provincial authorities were also present during the ceremony.
