KARACHI:Governor Sindh Imran Ismail visited PIA plane crash site in Model Colony and inspected the damage caused due to this tragic incident.
Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan and CEO PIA Arshad Malik, MNA Aftab Siddiqui, MPAs Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Haleem Adil, Khurrum Sher Zaman, Jamal Siddiqui and Ms Sidra Imran also accompanied Governor Sindh. Governor Sindh met with the locals and volunteers engaged in rescue and relief work.
CEO PIA Arshad Malik informed Governor Sindh that all dead bodies had been recovered from the wreckage while two persons were rescued alive after the crash.
After visiting the wreckage of the plane, Governor Sindh while talking with media appreciated the quick response of armed forces, and Ranger carrying out rescue work. He also lauded untiring efforts of Edhi and Chhipa ambulance service. Governor Sindh also appreciated services of scouts and volunteers of Pakistan Hilal-e-Ahmer.
He said that DNA samples of all dead bodies had been collected and after matching DNA from their relatives, dead bodies would be handed over to their heirs. He said that on the directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan Qasr-e-Naz and Airport hotel of PIA had been reserved for legal heirs of crash victim and families who lost their houses in the incident for their accommodation.
He said initially, on the directives of Prime Minister, an amount of Rs 1 million each would be given to the heirs of deceased, while the amount of insurance compensation would also be paid. In reply to a question, Governor Sindh said that inquiry committee constituted by the federal government had started working. Its report would answer questions about the causes of the incident, he added.
He appealed to media not to run news based on rumours and speculations and only give authentic and factual reports as the heirs of victims are already aggrieved and any baseless news only create unrest amongst them. He said that it was a miracle that no life was lost on the ground despite the crashing of the plane in a heavily populated area.
Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan said that Federal Government would construct the damaged houses while compensation for damaged vehicle would also be announced after their assessment. The report of inquiry committee would be presented in the parliament and before the masses, he added.
Later, Governor Sindh visited Emergency Response Centre and call center at PIA head office. CEO PIA informed Governor Sindh that this center was made functional within half an hour of the crash. He further informed that so far 18 dead bodies had been handed over to legal heirs while remaining would also be given to the relatives after verification of DNA.