NADRA to develop flood victims’ database

CM asks authority to devise system for digitalised tracking of flood relief distribution

KARACHI:

The National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) will develop database of flood affected people, chairman of the authority said on Monday.

Moreover, to facilitate cash transfers for flood victims, expired computerised national identity cards (CNICs) have been made valid till end of December, NADRA Chairman Tariq Malik told Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah during a meeting held at CM House.

Malik also suggested setting up mobile banking facilities at flood relief camps.

Days after tents meant for flood victims were seized from a warehouse belonging to a PPP local leader, CM Murad Ali Shah urged NADRA chairman to develop a system for his government so that the distribution of relief goods and transfer of cash to the affected people could be made transparent.

Acting Governor Agha Siraj Durrani have also pointed out misappropriations in flood relief items, while MPA

"We want distribution of relief goods in such a smooth and transparent way so that each and every affected family can benefit."

Shah said that presently over 600,000 people were living in the camps and a similar number of affectees have temporarily settled along the main roads and highways.

Huge inflows of flood relief supplies are pouring in from the provincial, federal government, friendly countries and donor agencies.

"I want NADRA to develop a database of the affected people on a union council basis with the provision of making entry of providing relief goods being provided to them so that it can be verified," he said and added there must be digital details of the recipient and donor, administration giving them goods.

Malik told the chief minister that his organization would develop the best database so that donations could reach the deserving people, and it could be checked.

The chairman of NADRA told the chief minister that they have started stationing their mobile units in the areas where their [NADRA] offices have collapsed and stopped functioning.

‘We paid the price for developed countries’ folly’

Sindh CM said Pakistan, particularly Sindh had paid for climate change caused by the developed countries, and the latter would have to take necessary measures for mitigating its impacts. The collapse of three million houses and displacement of 1.5 million people had created a humanitarian crisis in the province as various villages, towns, and portions of highways and railways tracks were still under water, he said while talking to US Deputy Chief of Mission Andrew Schofer, who called on him here.

Schofer expressed sorrow and deep grief over the loss of about 600 lives due to heavy rains and floods. He assured the chief minister that the American government would support the provincial government to rehabilitate the affected people. He also said that the American government would also help in the construction of collapsed houses. The chief minister pointed out that his government was facing a serious shortage of tents and mosquito nets. "We have distributed around 270,000 tents against a demand of 1.5 million tents," he said and added the tents were required even if the people were shifted to their homes because construction of their houses would take time.

Schofer assured the chief minister that the US would continue to provide support in every possible way.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20^th, 2022.