K-P asks centre to release Rs25b for relief

Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that the Rs2 trillion worth of losses were just initial estimates.


Express August 15, 2010

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government on Saturday asked the federal government to release Rs25 billion immediately so that relief activities could be kick-started in the flood-ravaged province.

Briefing journalists after an All Parties Conference (APC) here, provincial Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that the Rs2 trillion worth of losses were just initial estimates and more funds will be needed for the relief and reconstruction efforts in the province.

On President Zaradari’s visit to Nowshera, he said that it would have been good if the president had announced aid keeping in view the scale of destruction in the province.

Mian Iftikhar said that the APC has asked for immediate construction of Chakdarra and other bridges, which were destroyed in the floods and the rescue of people trapped in Kohistan and other parts of the province. He also called for the provision of water to these areas. The ATC also called for transparent distribution of funds in the flood-stricken areas and demanded that the federal government help in the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and rehabilitation of affected people.

Losses

Giving a breakdown of losses, he said that at least 1,011 people had been killed and 968 injured during the floods. He added that 890,256 persons were rendered homeless in 581 villages across the province.

The number of affected families stood at 545,739, while 105,214 houses were completely destroyed and 68,079 were partially damaged, he said.He said 8,325 head of cattle died during the calamity while standing crops over an area of 465,601 acres were also destroyed.

Relief

He said the number of relief camps has increased to 914 from a previous 734, with 120,000 persons from 14,082 families lodged there.

Mian Iftikhar added that 70 camps and 38 mobile clinics were also working to treat affected livestock across the province.

The APC was attended by Pakistan Peoples Party, Awami National Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, while Pakistan Muslim League and Pakistan Peoples Party-Sherpao boycotted the conference.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2010.

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