70% area cleared of floodwater: CM

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has claimed that 70% of rain and flood water which had kept towns and villages as well as agricultural fields submerged has been drained in the province. He was talking to the media after paying a visit to the shrine of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (RA) in Sehwan along with Governor Punjab Muhammad Baligur Rehman.

Shah said the people, even the government, did not expect such rapid drainage. However, he acknowledged that it is taking longer to drain water from Jamshoro district's Sehwan town and Dadu district's Khairpur Nathan Shah and Johi towns. Nevertheless, he assured that the government will be able to clear a majority of the deluged areas of Sindh by the end of November so that the farmers can sow the Rabi [winter] crop.

"The government will help the flood affected farmers to stand on their own feet again." According to the, rehabilitation of the damaged and collapsed houses, roads, government buildings and irrigation network is the provincial government's priority.

In this regard, he said, a $1.3 billion package, which includes a $500 million loan component from the World Bank, has been prepared. The package has already been forwarded to the center for approval and the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has given its nod as well, the CM told.

Shah informed that $500 million each will be spent on reconstruction of houses and rehabilitation as well as upgrade of the irrigation network. "The center has asked us to start work on these projects and all the pledged federal funding will be released before long."

Shah said the mode of support for the flood affected wheat farmers has been changed. Earlier the federal and provincial governments had promised to provide seed but now the decision has been changed and the two governments will release cash grants to farmers so that they can themselves buy seed.

Commenting on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's long march against the coalition government in the center, he said the prevailing situation of the post-flood disaster necessitated measures to help the affected people and not to try to destabilize the country. He contended that despite the backing of PTI's government in Punjab, the long march has not attracted the crowd which the party had been bragging about.

Responding to a question about the killing of two young men in Machhar colony, Karachi, the CM said the police have so far arrested 28 suspects who were involved in the lynching. Shah told that the government will also compensate families of both the slain persons who worked in a telecommunication company but were allegedly mistaken as outlaws.

Governor Punjab Muhammad Baligh ur Rehman and Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah visited Sehwan and distributed rations among the flood affectees. The national and provincial assembly members at Jamshoro district welcomed Governor Punjab and Chief Minister Sindh.

MNA Dr Sikandar Rahputo presented Ajrak and Sindhi Topi as welcoming gifts to Baligh ur Rehman.

During the visit, Baligh ur Rehman along with Syed Murad Ali Shah distributed 5,000 ration bags among the flood victims in Qadir Bux Bhallai village and interacted with the affectees.

The governor Punjab said flood and the calamity which it entailed never drew attention of the PTI whose leadership remained engaged in the power politics when Sindh, Balochistan, KPK and parts of Punjab were under water. "Floods destroyed villages after villages and the people are facing too many problems for survival but the PTI is adamant on conducting elections even in such a situation."

When questioned about any threat of violence caused by the march, the governor said the central government was seriously looking at the situation and a that a call in this regard has been traced in which a person was talking about supply of weapons.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2022.