PM urges no politics on flood relief

Shehbaz calls for joint efforts for rehabilitation of victims, asks K-P to increase compensation

DERA ISMAIL KHAN/ TANK:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday vowed to put in all possible efforts for the rehabilitation of the flood-affected people of the country, letting no political differences or discrimination impede the process.

The prime minister, during his visit to the flood-ravaged area of Dera Ismail Khan and Tank districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, said that though the province was ruled by another party, it should make no difference.

“As another party rules in this province. We have no difference with it at this point of time. We all have to do it collectively. This is the matter of Pakistan, the matter of you, your rehabilitation, your house and your children,” Shehbaz said.

“God willing, you will see there will be no politics or discrimination in it,” he assured in his interaction with the people displaced by the flash floods in Dera Ismail Khan. He said that both the federal and provincial governments were working round-the-clock for the relief of the affected population.

The prime minister also mentioned his interaction with Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on the subject, who also assured him of all-out support to fulfil the collective responsibility of the rehabilitation of the displaced population.

He said following the completion of his visits to the affected areas, he would chair a meeting within a couple of days to assess the damage and strategise the compensation process. Shehbaz promised that there would be no politics or discrimination in the rehabilitation of flood-hit people.

The prime minister said the government would not delay the reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure, including roads and bridges destroyed by flash floods. He reiterated that the government would not sit idle until last individual was rehabilitated and household was reconstructed.

The prime minister, who earlier visited the flood-affected areas of Tank district, appreciated the performance of the National Highway Authority (NHA) for rehabilitation of road infrastructure in Balochistan and other areas.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said that the collective efforts by the federal and the provincial governments were inevitable to ensure early rehabilitation of the people affected by flash floods unleashed by torrential rains.

During the visit, the prime minister received a briefing from the Tank deputy commissioner. He was apprised of the ongoing relief and rehabilitation work in the area, including supply of food, drinking water to the displaced people currently lodged at temporary shelters.

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The prime minister urged the Khyber Pakkhtunkhwa (K-P) government to enhance the compensation of existing Rs800,000 for the deceased to Rs1 million.

“Financial compensation is nothing [compared to the loss of their dear ones] but it will help them live through the challenges of life…This is not competition. This is our responsibility,” he added.

Shehbaz said that 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 Rs500,000 for both mud and concrete houses damaged completely and Rs200,000 for partially damaged ones.

The prime minister instructed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to rehabilitate the damaged roads. He said after completing the visits of flood-hit areas, he would mull over the surveys of the NDMA and provincial authorities to assess the damages and decide the possible contribution by the federal government.

The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) President Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who accompanied the prime minister during the visit, said the construction of Tank Zam dam and other small dams would help save the area and its infrastructure from the floods.

The prime minister also took a round of the shelter camps housing the flood-affected people. He sat on ground to interact with the families and expressed words of affection to the children.

PHOTO: APP

He assured the displaced families that both the federal and provincial government were collectively working for their early rehabilitation. Communications Minister Asad Mahmood and Adviser Amir Muqam and senior government officers were also present.