Cash relief hiked as Balochistan deaths top 200

QUETTA:

As rescue workers retrieved the dead bodies of nine more people in the flood-hit Balochistan's Musakhail district, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed the relevant authorities to ensure provision of Rs50,000 cash relief to each flood-stricken family through electronic transfer within three days.

The decision came as the region continues to reel from its worst floods and torrential rains, with death toll rising to 200 across the province.

Presiding over a meeting of the Relief Coordination Committee (FRCC) constituted for the flood affected areas, PM also ordered that a joint survey for the assessment of flood-related losses should be completed in coordination with the provincial government within three weeks instead of five weeks.

The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) will provide Rs50,000 cash relief to every flood-affected family under the supervision of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Shehbaz directed the FRCC to finalise the process of cash relief disbursement and present its report within a day.

Earlier, the meeting was informed that a survey would be conducted in coordination with the provincial governments to assess the damages caused by the recent spell of rains and floods.

By the time the survey was completed, the officials said, the government, through the BISP, will provide Rs30,000 cash relief.

The prime minister, however, enhanced the cash relief to Rs50,000 for each affected family and its disbursement under the supervision of NDMA, and urged the provincial government to coordinate with the NDMA regarding the joint survey at the earliest.

“It is the provincial government’s prerogative to become part of the federal government’s flood relief efforts,” he said, adding however, the federal government would ensure the relief and rehabilitation of the flood-affected people through its own resources.

The meeting was further told that as the federal government was in contact with international donors and other welfare institutions, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank had already assured of providing necessary funds for the reconstruction of destroyed infrastructure and rehabilitation activities.

Read more: PM Shehbaz establishes relief fund for flood victims

During the meeting, the chief minister of Balochistan and the provincial chief secretary briefed the participants about the life and material losses in the province due to recent rains and the rescue and relief measures taken by the provincial government.

Speaking via a video link, Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo expressed his gratitude on behalf of the people and government of the province for the special interest of Prime Minister Shehbaz in the relief and rehabilitation of the flood-ravaged people of Balochistan.

“The cooperation of the federal government for relief and rehabilitation operation is very important as the prime minister has personally visited the affected districts and reviewed the prevailing situation,” Bizenjo said. He emphasised the need for speeding up the efforts of the NDMA.

The Balochistan chief secretary informed the meeting about the losses, relief activities and the needs of the province. According to the preliminary estimate, he said, Rs15 billion was required for the recovery of the damages and another Rs20 billion for the rehabilitation phase in Balochistan.

PM Shehbaz appreciated the prompt response of the provincial government institutions and assured that the federal government would fully cooperate with the provincial government in the recovery and restoration phases.

Women, children among dead

Musakhail Assistant Commissioner Imran Khan Mandokhail confirmed that the dead include women and children and said a rescue operation was underway in various parts of the district to shift people to safer places.

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall has also toppled standing crops in the district with the deluge of water inundating a large chunk of fields, he added.

As per the data shared by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), 56 children are also among the dead. The Balochistan government has declared an emergency in 26 out of a total 34 districts of Balochistan to cope with the situation developed after floods and heavy rainfall.

“Pak Army and Frontier Corps are assisting the civil administration and PDMA in relief and rescue operations,” PDMA Director General Naseer Ahmed Nasar said.

He stated that coordinated efforts were being made to provide timely support and relief to the flood-hit people. Floods have swept away dams, bridges and roads across the province.

The floods have also washed away a portion of the railway track between Sibi and Dera Murad Jamali, suspending the train service between Balochistan and other parts of the country.

Pakistan Railways team was dispatched to the area to ensure resumption of the train service. Commissioner Kalat Division Muhamamd Dawood Khilji has directed the owners of heavy vehicles to avoid travelling on the Quetta-Karachi highway.

Floods have swept away Lunda bridge near Uthal, which has caused the suspension of traffic between Quetta and Karachi.

Federal help demanded

The Balochistan Assembly has demanded of the federal government to provide Rs50 billion for the flood-affected people of the province. The house adopted a unanimous resolution on Monday seeking financial assistance from the federal government for the rehabilitation of flood survivors.

The session of the Balochistan Assembly resumed here with acting speaker Sardar Babar Musakhail in the chair.

Asad Baloch, the Balochistan Minister for Agriculture presented the resolution. Both treasury and opposition benches supported the resolution. “Floods caused massive destruction in Balochistan,” Baloch said.

The members spoke at length about the damages caused by floods in Balochistan and demanded of the federal government to announce a special package in this regard.

The acting speaker put the resolution to vote and the house subsequently adopted the resolution.