Cash distribution among flood victims begins

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched a Rs37.2 billion Flood Relief Cash Programme on Friday to provide Rs25,000 cash assistance to each of 1.5 million families across the flood-stricken areas of the country.

Addressing the launching ceremony, the prime minister said that the cash disbursement would be done through the Benazir Income Support Programme in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority and other allied departments.

He said the heavy monsoon rains and consequent floods affected all the four provinces with Balochistan being the worst-affected, where hundreds of people had died and infrastructure had been destroyed. He said that the cash support programme was being launched from Balochistan.

Mentioning his multiple visits to the flood-hit areas, Shehbaz appreciated the rescue and relief efforts of all the national institutions, like the disaster management authorities and the National Highway Authority, as well as the relevant provincial departments.

The prime minister also paid rich tribute to the six martyred army officers, including Quetta Corps Commander Lt-Gen Sarfaraz, who sacrificed their lives in a chopper crash during the flood relief operation in Balochistan.

“The whole nation needs to unite to face this situation. The federal and provincial governments are also cooperating with one another. Our international partners and donors are also extending their support,” he said. He added that cash disbursement would be completed within three days.

The programme has initially been launched in four districts of Balochistan – Jhal Magsi, Khuzdar, Qilla Abdulla and Lasbela. Through a video link, the beneficiaries in Jhal Magsi area were also shown receiving cash assistance.

Shehbaz said the cash support programme would support over 9 million people across the country. He thanked Finance Minister Miftah Ismail for arranging Rs37 billion from the national kitty to support the flood-stricken people in this time of great distress.

In the next phase, the prime minister told the ceremony, a joint survey would be carried out to assess the damages to crops, houses, highways and bridges, which would follow the rehabilitation work in coordination with the provinces.

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Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who also heads the Flood Relief Committee (FRC) told the gathering that the committee had identified the worst-affected areas, while a joint survey would be conducted to assess damages to houses and crops in the next phase.

“In the third phase, the government will collaborate with international development partners to help redesign the infrastructure to prevent flood-caused damages in the future,” the planning minister told the gathering.

Poverty Alleviation Minister Shazia Marri, while addressing the ceremony via a video link, apprised the participants of the death toll in the flood. She said that the BISP would ensure cash disbursement transparently based on the available data.

NDMA Chairman Lt General Akhtar Nawaz said the cash assistance would be disbursed in 724 union councils of all the four provinces, which would be followed by the compensation for the flood-caused losses.