Imran announces 10 more dams to avert deluges

PTI chief visits flood-hit K-P districts; assures victims of all-out support

ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on Friday announced the construction of 10 more dams in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to avoid the recurrence of the devastation caused by the ongoing super deluge in the province.

During his visit to the flood-hit areas of the province, Imran visited Dera Ismail Khan and Tank districts and interacted with the flood victims at a relief camp set up at the Ratta Kulachi Sports Complex. Accompanied by K-P Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, the former PM reviewed the relief and rehabilitation activities in the affected areas.

“We can easily store water if we had dams,” the former prime minister said. “A dam should also be built on Mount Sulaiman. The sole solution to prevent the catastrophes caused by flood is to construct dams.”

Earlier, the PTI chairman and the chief minister received a briefing from the divisional commissioner about the flood situation, relief operations, loss of life as well as property and infrastructure damage caused by the flood.

Later talking to the media, Imran appreciated the measures taken by the district administrations in the flood-affected areas, directing the chief minister to prepare a feasibility report for complete relief operation and start work on an emergency basis.

Besides, he stressed the need for the provincial government to provide funds immediately for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims. Imran said that rains had caused large-scale devastation in K-P and elsewhere in the country.

Imran said that current floods were more destructive than those in 2010, adding that Sindh and Balochistan were the most-affected provinces by rains and floods. He directed the party's volunteers to help and serve the flood-affected people.

Chairman PTI @ImranKhanPTI talking to media while on visit to flood affected areas in DIK- #FloodsInPakistan pic.twitter.com/JaPOC2waw1

— PTI (@PTIofficial) August 26, 2022

The PTI chairman reassured the flood victims that they would not be left alone in these trying times. “I am planning to conduct a survey and help the victims,” he said. The authorities concerned were also estimating the damages in the flood-affected areas, he said, assuring the people of every possible help.

He said that unless the country got economic stability, inflation would not be controlled, as the incumbent government had broken all records of inflation, because the country was being ruled by criminals and a criminal was sitting outside the country, adding that this government had also imposed a ban on private channels.

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CM Mahmood said the K-P government was standing with the flood victims in this difficult situation and would not leave them alone. “Emergency has been declared in the affected districts to speed up the rescue and relief activities,” he added.

The chief minister said that necessary instructions had been issued for the restoration of the damaged infrastructure in the affected areas. “Funds will be provided for the restoration of infrastructure from various development funds, while the institutions would also be strengthened,” he added.

Shaukat Yousafzai, Shibli Faraz, Sheikh Yaqub, Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur, Chief Secretary Dr Shahzad Bangash, DI Khan Division Commissioner Aamir Afaq, Regional Police Officer Shaukat Abbas and others were also present.

Later, Imran took to the microblogging website, Twitter, saying that he saw the level of massive destruction during his visit to DI Khan and Tank districts, adding that he discussed with the chief minister the measures to speed up relief activities.

“Went today with the K-P CM to see the flood-devastated areas of DI Khan and Tank and the level of destruction is massive and have discussed with the CM how to improve scale and speed of the assistance to affectees including preventive measures against spread of disease, especially in children,” he tweeted.

“The sheer magnitude of the flooding that I saw in Tank and DI Khan shows the challenge Pakistan is confronted with as this is the situation in many other areas across the country,” he added. “Got a briefing and met some of the flood affectees at one of the relief camps set up by the K-P government in DI Khan.”

پنجاب اور کے پی حکومتیں متاثرین کو فوری ریلیف فراہم کریں۔متاثرین کی بلا تفریق مدد کی جائےمشکل کی اس گھڑی میں عوام کو تنہا نہیں چھوڑوں گا،عمران خان#ImranKhan #FloodsInPakistan pic.twitter.com/nG1RMAGtV8

— PTI (@PTIofficial) August 26, 2022