Pakistan PM visits Kashmir, expresses solidarity with quake victims

Tariq Butt, Staff Reporter

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan visited Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), on Monday to express solidarity with the victims of a recent earthquake that wreaked havoc in the region.

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During a meeting with Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider, Imran was briefed on the losses as well as rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures taken by the AJK officials.

The meeting was also attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur and National Disaster Management Authority Chairman Lt Gen Mohammad Afzal.

Strict security arrangements were made in the area ahead of Imran's visit.

Imran Khan inquires an elderly survivor during his visit to Mirpur. Twitter photo

The premier also visited the government hospital to inquire after the health of some of the survivors being treated there.

The number of the people with serious and minor injuries was 172 and 680, respectively, in Mirpur district. Of the seriously injured persons, 27 were still being treated at Divisional Headquarters Hospital and three in the Combined Military Hospital, Mangla, while the rest had been discharged.

Mirpur district suffered the most damage from the 5.6 magnitude earthquake, that rocked parts of Punjab as well as some of the country's northern areas on Sept.24. About 40 people died, 38 of whom belonged to the Mirpur district.

Imran Khan inquires an elderly survivor during his visit to Mirpur. Twitter photo

At the time, the premier was in New York, where he had gone to attend the 74th annual session of the United Nations General Assembly. He has announced Rs500,000 compensation for each person killed in the quake in Azad Kashmir and Punjab.

The cheques for the amount would be distributed among dependants of the deceased on Monday, most probably by Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider who reached Mirpur to receive Imran.