Iqbal writes to CMs seeking plan on flood relief efforts

Iqbal wrote that the NDMA had given an initial estimate of the losses caused by the recent floods and torrential rains

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who heads the Flood Relief Committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has written letters to the chief ministers of all the provinces, asking them to devise a plan for the joint flood relief efforts.

On the direction of PM Shehbaz, Iqbal scribbled letters to the chief ministers of Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab under the spirit of national strategy and to extend help to the flood-hit people.

He also sent letters to Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Sardar Tanvir Ilyas and Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid.

The minister also sought time from the premier and chief minister of AJK and G-B chief minister for holding an immediate meeting to devise a joint strategy could for helping the flood-victims.

Iqbal wrote that in a recent meeting presided over by PM Shehbaz, the NDMA had given an initial estimate of the losses caused by the recent floods and torrential rains.

The premier declared the floods a natural calamity and ordered to formulate a joint plan to tackle the issue, he said, adding that on PM’s direction, every province would appoint a focal person for the acceleration of the rehabilitation process.

He said the premier had appointed him as the head of the relief committee. “It is our national obligation to extend help to the flood-affectees and we must coordinate our efforts and resources in this regard.”

Meanwhile, Iqbal visited the residence of Naik Mudassar Fayyaz Shaheed at Shakargarh, who embraced martyrdom in helicopter crash in Lasbela along five other senior army officials.
The minister offered fateha for the martyrs and noted that the whole nation was proud of them.

Later, while talking to media, he regretted that a political party had used the Lasbela incident for its nefarious designs, adding that propaganda against institutions was against the interest and security of the country.

He said the process of census had started and would be completed by February next year.