Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited a number of flood-hit cities on Friday, saying helping the flood-affected people was the time to rise above politics and providing them an across-the-board service of relief and rehabilitation.
Shehbaz said that the federal government was working in collaboration with the provincial governments to alleviate the sufferings of flood-affected people, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
He was speaking during his visit to Dera Ghazi Khan where he was briefed about relief and rescue operation being carried out by the authorities in flood-hit areas of south Punjab and adjoining Balochistan.
PM Shehbaz said there was no doubt floods had wreaked havoc in some parts of the country. “There is a need to conduct a joint survey to ascertain the number of lives lost and the extent of damage done to people’s properties,” he asserted.
Later, the prime minister met with the locals and listened to their grievances.
Federal Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Ata Tarar, MNA Sardar Riaz Mehmood Khan and senior officials accompanied the premier on the visit.
Addressing a public gathering in Dera Ghazi Khan, the prime minister said the demand for water channel by the locals would be fulfilled soon.
The prime minister vowed to leave no stone unturned till every flood victim was provided relief.
The prime minister said as per the 2010’s National Finance Commission award, around 58 percent of the resources went to the provinces and called upon the provincial governments to address the needs of the people.
He recalled that during his chief minister-ship, he utilized the funds of Punjab to launch the development projects.
The prime minister said the federal government was committed to provide relief to the people affected by floods and ensure their early rehabilitation.
He emphasized on ensuring that the compensation be disbursed among the victims.
He said the federal government had increased the cash assistance for injured people from Rs25,000 to 250,000 and had also announced a similar compensation of Rs0.5 million for both mud and concrete houses damaged completely and Rs 0.2 million for partially hit ones.
He urged upon the departments concerned to take measures in advance to cater to new rain spells in the flood-affected areas.
The prime minister also mentioned that August 5 was a reminder about the ruthless barbarity meted out to the Kashmiris of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
He said Pakistan would continue to support the just right of Kashmiris for their self-determination and condemn India’s illegal revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier, during his visit to the flood-hit areas of south Punjab including Dera Ghazi Khan, Rojhan and Rajanpur, he called the need for joint survey by federal and provincial governments to assess the damages in the wake of floods.
The prime minister on the occasion was given briefing by the authorities concerned regarding the ongoing relief and rehabilitation work in the area including supply of food, drinking water and basic health facilities to the displaced people staying at temporary shelters.
Federal Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb, Special Adviser Ataullah tarar, Member National Assembly Sardar Riaz Mehmood Khan Mazari, Aslam Bhootani and Chairman National Disaster Management Authority Lt Gen Akhtar Nawaz accompanied the prime minister.
Rojhan visit
Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said the government would actively carry out relief work in the flood-affected areas till the rehabilitation of all victims.
Addressing a public gathering in Rojhan, the prime minister said the federal government was committed to facilitate the flood-affected people in collaboration with the provincial government.
The prime minister said the government as its prime vision to serve the people would extend every possible assistance to the people who suffered losses in the wake of recent floods.
He advised the departments concerned to be vigilant of the upcoming rain spells to avoid further damage to human lives, property and livestock.
He stressed the early disbursement of compensation money among the people affected by floods, adding that He said the federal government had increased the cash assistance for injured people from Rs25,000 to 250,000.
He also announced a similar compensation of Rs0.5 million for both mud and concrete houses damaged completely and Rs 0.2 million for partially hit ones.
PM Sharif said, “The affected people are looking towards the government for mitigation of their sufferings and stress, any negligence in the supply of food, medicines, and accommodation would not be tolerated”.
He emphasized extending a uniform level of facilitation to flood victims across the country and ordered ensuring proper cleaning, sanitation, and fumigation in the flood-hit areas to avert the spread of diseases and the provision of clean drinking water to control gastric diseases.
He emphasized the need for a joint survey by federal and provincial governments to assess the damages in the wake of floods.
PM Sharif said the federal government was committed to providing relief to the people affected by floods and ensuring their early rehabilitation.
He said that both the federal and provincial governments were working round the clock to provide relief to the affected population.
The prime minister earlier had an aerial view of the area to see the devastation caused by the heavy rains.
He, on the occasion, was given a briefing by the authorities concerned regarding the ongoing relief and rehabilitation work in the area including the supply of food, drinking water and basic health facilities to the displaced people staying at temporary shelters.
The prime minister was informed about the provision of mobile hospitals and allied facilities to affected locals.
Also, the initial survey has been submitted with Provincial Disaster Management Authority.
Federal Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb, Special Adviser Ataullah Tarar, Member National Assembly Sardar Riaz Mehmood Khan Mazari, Aslam Bhootani and Chairman National Disaster Management Authority Lt Gen Akhtar Nawaz accompanied the prime minister.
Reporter: Awais Kiani
With inputs from Agencies