PM vows to go the extra mile for IDPs

Says Waziristan residents sacrificing today for a better tomorrow, distributes relief goods.

BANNU:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday promised to increase government spending on all those displaced by the offensive in North Waziristan Agency and saluted their great sacrifices for the country’s brighter future.

“The internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Waziristan are sacrificing their today for a better future and the curse of terrorism will be rooted out from this country because of their sacrifices,” he said during a tour of IDP camps in Bannu on Friday.

Acknowledging the difficulties of IDPs, the prime minister said, “we are working day and night to ease your woes.”

He assured the affected people that the government “will spend the maximum [needed] for IDPs, even if the amount is in billions or trillions”. “We are with you in these difficult times and for this purpose, we have put all of our resources in force.”



PM Nawaz announced that an additional amount of Rs20,000 per month would be given to each family during the month of Ramazan. He said that the allowance of Rs12,000 per month, apart from the monthly Rs3,000 house rent and Rs5,000 food allowance, are already being given to each dislocated family.

In total, they would be getting Rs40,000 for the month of Ramazan.

The prime minister emphasised, “This is no favour, but the duty of this government and the right of the IDPs”. He added, “The government has already made arrangements to provide fodder, grass and feed for [your] livestock. Medical dispensaries will soon be installed where free-of-charge treatment and medicines will be available. Everyone will be given polio vaccinations by the Pakistan Army.”

He also appraised the gathering about the future developmental plans in the affected area. “We are also planning the reconstruction of the affected houses in the area to rehabilitate IDPs once the operation is over. We are simultaneously planning to develop the Fata region with roads, houses, water and sanitation facilities, and other civic amenities so that the lives of the people are at a par with the rest of the country.”

The prime minister appreciated the army officers and its jawans for their sacrifices and commitment for the cause of the nation and said the army is giving up their lives and salaries for the IDPs and they deserve praise from the whole nation for this.

“Inshallah, terrorism will be banished and Pakistan will prosper,” he concluded.

On his arrival to Bannu, the prime minister was received by Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and Corps Commander Peshawar Lt Gen Khalid Rabbani. He was briefed by Major General Akhtar Jamil about the arrangements made for the IDPs of North Waziristan and he later distributed relief goods and food packages.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2014.