Gilani cancels US visit due to floods
Pakistani leaders were widely accused of neglecting victims of last year's floods and the government is again seen as moving too slowly in the latest crisis.
"The prime minister has cancelled his visit because of the floods and now the foreign minister will represent Pakistan on the visit," said an official in Gilani's office.
The government was last year pilloried by flood victims who accused civilian authorities of a delayed and inadequate response to the disaster, which was met with nearly one billion dollars in foreign donations.
Local officials say the level of devastation is worse than last year in parts of Sindh, the country’s main breadbasket, with poor drainage and weak infrastructure exacerbating the problem.
Last year’s floods hit 13 out of 24 districts of Sindh, this year almost every district is affected.
But while last year’s disaster was caused by the bulging River Indus, causing mass devastation where waters breached the broken banks, the flooding this year is a result of direct rainfall, affecting different areas.
Three dead, water starts to recede
Three people were reported to have died on Friday in the aftermath of monsoon rains and floods in Sindh.
A ten-year-old girl died of gastro in one of the relief camps, while a 45-year-old woman was killed in a roof collapse.
Another woman died of malaria in the Umer Kot area.
The water level in several districts of the province has gone down, with reports of normalcy returning in low lying areas of Nawabshah.
Water has also receded by six inches in Badin and Pangrio.
Waterborne diseases are on the rise and clean water is not available for flood victims.
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Gilani cancelled the trip because, Obama refused to meet him. I really pity all the commentators hailing Gilani.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Pak-PM-calls-off-US-visit-after-Obama-refused-to-meet-Report/articleshow/10017178.cms
@AMJAD MEHBOOB: Is this first time happening in our country???? The Media House which broke this news are themselves tax evaders in billions. I do agree that this practice must stop but the way this story was published clearly shows total bias towards a single party and its leadership not only in print but also in electronic media. The basic problem which our country is facing are: Corruption at all levels and in all departments of our life, hypocrisy, terrorist mindsets, and considering that we are the best though we are only the best on the problems I have mention. The ailment of these pangs are not new. It goes back to 1948 if one is only interested to know the true facts and figures of our 65 years history.
obliged.and lets c wen he lands in benazirabad (where else) to hold a child and kiss his cheek like he did recently in iran.
Whose wise counsel was it ? Because the present Government, like the previous one , is indifferent to the peoples' sufferings
it is amazing to see the difference of the BMI of federal Ministers who give away so called "Relief Efforts" and the emaciated poor public who are bare to the bone...the day is not far when all accounts will be settled.
@ Aftab Kenneth Wilson . You might not read between the line.H.A Khan is referring to PM's entourage which include 80 people.That was to be paid by taxpayer's money.PM has no significant assignment there.All world leader declined to meet PM on the aftermath of Abbotabad incident.What is justification of taking sons & Dughters and grandson to be taken on official visit What is the justification of PM's Military Secretary's Wife in the trip to USA.
i do not think the prime minister took this decision on his own. first of this was media who forced the premier to cancel this visit. secondly it was the UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon. yes!!! Ban Ki-moon spoiled all plans of PM Gilani. UN SG in a press conference assured that the aid to pakistan to reach in a few days. this announcement exposed the PM's plan. The government wanted to give impression that it was the premier's visit which resulted in convincing UN to help flood victims. Furthermore, if the PM is so nice and so much sympathetic to the flood victims he should have announced the cancellation of his visit before Ban Ki-moon's press conference and media reaction.
O Prime Minister! - u r so great - such a big decision and so much praise for your decision to stay back. Lets see what u can do while staying back in Pakistan - if nothing significant can be done for the people affected by the floods, then u r better off going to the US - considering that since u were elected, you have been living in Pakistan mostly (besides your 3-4 day 'official' visits) but we do not see any tangible changes in the lives of Pakistanis rather a downward slide in the standard of living. O Prime Minister! what can you do?
The US is in a rage and Gilani has wisely decided to stay away. It is natural he does not want to be a punching bag in the ego battles between the Military Establishment and the Pentagon. HRK cannot do any harm as all know she cannot change policy or influence those doing so. Floods are only an excuse to curry favour with the electorate. This is what we call killing two birds with one stone.
@Aftab Kenneth Wilson: I'd like to meet the person who would pay to have something made public that has already been made public just to ask the undoubtedly interesting story of when he received the brain trauma.
No worries, he will visit next week.
A sign of something seriously wrong..... the Government in Pakistan actually trying to deliver! This is too good to be true. Maybe it is the coming General Elections, that the rulers are feeling close to their throats, that is forcing them to make "popular" decisions.
The right decision. The last one I recollect was when he said no to the clocks being put forward.
@H.A. Khan: You are referring intentionally ...... perhaps paid to provide this information.
A very Noble decision. People of my country must appreciate and the opposition should search another issue for point scoring. Our Foreign Minister and her colleagues are capable to look after the interests of our country. I hope now our PM will visit each nook and corner of Sindh.
Good decision. The damage in Sindh is more than 2010 floods. Now he should set up a command center in Hyderabad and personally monitor the flood relief work.
President of Palau (population 20,956) with whom meeting was scheduled in NY will be disappointed.And so will 80 members of his delegation.
http://thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=8841&Cat=13
But a good decision!.
Good Decision, .Pakistanis will appreciate it.
This is called "one stones two birds". Very strong diplomatic message to US and it will earn lost goodwill of pak people.
If your country in trouble, or hurt or need -- go to the poor people of your country not America. They're the only ones that'll help -- the only ones.
Must have been some other reason for cancellation of the tour !! Our politicians especially the two at the top are not that good!!!
Besides blessing the poor villagers by placing his hand on their heads, could Gilani bless them by placing food on their plates?
It is a good decision. I hope our prime minister will now concentrate on relief efforts for flood victims, and will make up for our president's absence.
wooooooooow very impressed after the floods last year and a visit to tehran they finally got the message
Late lateef's of Pakistani Politics.... Anyways, Deir aayad durust aayad.... Hope that FM Khar takes just less than 10 members in delegation....
Good Decision, .Pakistanis will appreciate it.