Epic destruction: Govt increases flood assistance to Rs70b

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday reached Qambar Shahdad Kot on a day-long visit to oversee the relief activities in the flood-hit areas, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.  

During his visit, PM Shehbaz distributed cheques among the flood affectees. He announced to increase the flood aid from Rs28 billion to Rs70 billion. He said that the government would provide 700,000 more tents for the flood displaced persons. 

He said our problems were galore but our resources were limited. He regretted that floods had destroyed crops, orchards and houses.

The premier observed that recent floods affected Sindh the most adding that Balochistan was the second most affected province followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and South Punjab. 

On this occasion, he also expressed his gratitude to China, UAE, Iran, Saudi Arab, Turkey and other countries who were providing assistance to Pakistan to deal with this huge catastrophe. He said that Turkey had sent four trains carrying aid for Pakistan flood affectees. 

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah also accompanied Prime Minister Shehbaz. 

The premier also met with flood victims at the relief camps set up to accommodate a large number of displaced people.

During his visit, the prime minister was briefed about the flood situation and relief and rescue operations being carried out in the surrounding flood-hit areas.

He was informed that flood-hit areas were still submerged causing difficulties in the relief and rescue operations.

He also undertook an aerial view of the inundated areas to assess the damage incurred by the flash floods.

Power supply via Dadu-Khuzdar transmission line restored

Meanwhile, on the special instructions of Prime Minister Shahbaz, the work for restoration of electricity in flood-affected areas continues on an emergency basis with restoration of the National Transmission and Dispatch Company’s Dadu-Khuzdar transmission line.

The PM Office in a statement on Monday said the prime minister was personally monitoring the restoration of power supply and a report was being submitted to him on a daily basis.

With the restoration of Dadu-Khuzdar transmission line, the electricity supply has been restored to a large part of flood-affected Central Balochistan.

The restoration work on the Sibi to Quetta transmission line, whose 10 towers had collapsed due to flood water, is expected to be completed by September 10.

The maintenance work is also in progress on the transmission line from Sibi to Machh.