"Each penny will be spent with transparency. And, let me assure the House and the opposition that there is nothing to worry about," the Prime Minister said while winding up the over three-week debate on the situation following the October 8 earthquake.
The House unanimously passed a resolution for making compulsory three-month rescue and relief training for the youth at educational institutions and for reviving Civil Defence organisation.
The resolution, tabled by Asiya Azeem, said that on completion of the training, the youth would be awarded a certificate, and 10 marks would be included in their final examination result.
The Prime Minister offered to head a parliamentary committee to oversee the relief and rehabilitation, adding that the government "wants to take the opposition along with it".
Law Minister Wasi Zafar had another verbal bout, this time with Pervaiz Ashraf and Nayyar Bokhari of Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians, who wanted the Speaker to honour his commitment and let them speak on point of order prior to giving floor to the Prime Minister.
After Speaker Amir Hussain declined to allow them to speak, the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy legislators walked out of the House and stayed away during Prime Minister's speech.
Shaukat asked the opposition to demonstrate political consciousness and accept his offer.
He said that locally Rs 5 billion pledges and $2 billion pledges from abroad had been made, and the government was hopeful of getting more assistance from abroad as rehabilitation would be a long drawn-out process.
About the massive criticism on delay in providing relief to the earthquake victims, he said that it was because all communication links, including roads, had collapsed, making it almost impossible to promptly start rescue and relief operation. "Even now, some parts of Kaghan, Neelum and Jhelum Valleys are inaccessible by road," he added.
Regarding presence of United States and Nato forces, he said that there was no need for concern, as these comprised doctors, nurses and engineers. "Let me make it clear to all and sundry that there can be no question of compromising on the country's security and solidarity. We know how to defend our motherland," he asserted.
He announced Rs 25,000 for construction of a room, or two, for the affectees, and said that the bereaved families of a person who died would get Rs 0.1 million. Hosever, he did not specify how much help the injured would get.
The Prime Minister said that a new 'building code' was being formulated, which would be applicable across the country so that in future structures could survive such tremors.
The initial report of losses, caused by the disaster, would be presented in the upcoming donors' conference in Islamabad on November 19, he added.
The government, he said, was working on a comprehensive package for the people who had lost jobs or their crops were devastated. In this connection, he added that besides Khushhali Bank, other financial institutions would also offer loans on soft terms.
Teams from Turkey had arrived and were engaged in survey of the seismic dimensions. They would also suggest precautionary measures in this connection, he said.
Shaukat said many victims needed artificial limbs--as there had been large-scale amputations--for which, with the co-operation of Britain and Iran, artificial limbs centres would be established in Kashmir and NWFP.