Rs280m payout package for rain-hit farmers

NA speaker seeks report on overall damage caused by recent heavy rain

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan has said that Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has forwarded a summary to the Balochistan chief minister for assistance package amounting to Rs280.072 million for farmers whose crops were damaged because of heavy rain.

He stated this while responding to a calling-attention notice moved by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MNA Fazal Muhammad Khan in the National Assembly session on Monday.

The minister said that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was in contact with the PDMA to assess the losses incurred by heavy rains in the country.

However, the minister agreed to enhance the relief amount for rain-hit areas. The minister told the House that a survey is underway in Punjab to assess the damage. A total of 12,944-acre land only in Rajanpur has been affected, he added.

Khan said that the government will introduce a comprehensive policy on agriculture soon. He offered the opposition to have a debate on it so that their concerns may be addressed.

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar directed the federal government to submit a comprehensive report about the overall loss caused by recent heavy rain. He also asked the government to work with provincial governments in inquiring about the overall losses.