ISLAMABAD: The federal government has approved cash relief for all families of the Harnai area of Balochistan which was hit by a powerful earthquake on Oct 7.

This was announced by Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Poverty Alleviation Senator Sania Nishtar who visited the earthquake-hit areas of Harnai to assess the assistance needed by the area people from the federal government, according to an official press release issued here on Saturday.

“After the visit, she announced the federal government’s cash relief for all families of Harnai,” it said.

“The federal government will give Rs12,000 cash relief to all families of Harnai in immediate relief. The relief will be mobilised under the Ehsaas programme. This cash relief will be in addition to the compensation being planned for affected households after a detailed damage assessment is carried out,” said Dr Nishtar.

At least 20 people were killed and about 300 others injured when the powerful earthquake struck northern Balochistan on Oct 7 morning, causing roofs and walls of mud-brick houses to collapse over residents while they were asleep.

The earthquake hit Quetta at 3.01am and the Harnai district, 95km northeast of Quetta, bore the brunt of the quake where casualties occurred and hundreds of mud houses collapsed, rendering thousands of people homeless.

Dr Nishtar expressed grief over the human and material losses that she witnessed across the district. She went to village Killi Shor and other areas of Tehsil Harnai to inquire after the affected families.

Sympathising with the affected people, she said the federal government was with the people of Harnai during these hard times and it would do whatever it could to provide them immediate relief.

“We are fully committed to supporting the earthquake-affected people. Ehsaas’ shock-responsive registry will open its desks on Monday in the affected areas,” she said.

Dr Nishtar also reviewed arrangements being made to open Ehsaas registration desks at the Irrigation Department of Harnai.

The Ehsaas National Socio-Economic Registry Survey has been completed in Harnai and the registration desks will facilitate self-enrolment of the households that need Ehsaas’ help.