Donors’ conference after flood damage assessment

Planning Minister announces 'proactive strategy' to foster rehabilitation after monsoon catastrophe

ISLAMBAD:

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Monday informed the National Assembly that Pakistan would organise donors' conference soon after the completion of a survey to determine the damage caused by recent floods across the country.

Winding up debate on a motion under Rule 259 regarding the situation arising out in the country after the floods, the minister said development partners would complete the estimate flood damage survey on October 24.

He said the government would introduce a proactive strategy soon to foster the rehabilitation process adding that stakeholders' input would be of great significance in this regard.

Iqbal said the government was making concerted efforts to provide relief to flood-affectees. "We do not want to waste our time in by-elections as the challenge of rehabilitation is front of us."

The minister said initially the government had distributed Rs70 billion under the BISP programme to support the flood-affected community and under this programme each family received Rs25,000.

He said the government had approved the distribution of wheat seed worth Rs9 billion to support farmers in flood-affected areas which will run with the support of provincial governments.

Iqbal said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will soon announce a package for farmers at the Farmer's Convention.