Providing relief to survivors is a national cause: Kayani

Army chief visits flood-hit areas, monitors Pakistan Army relief efforts.

KARACHI:

Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani visited flood-hit areas in rural Sindh on Thursday, in a whirlwind tour that included monitoring Pakistan Army’s flood relief efforts.

General Kayani visited Badin, Kaloi, Umerkot, Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas and Nawabshah. He also met residents who had been affected by the floods and assured them that the army will do its best to help them in their hour of need.

“Providing relief to victims is a national cause and the Pakistan Army will be the first to come to their aid, no matter where they are,” General Kayani said.

The Pakistan Army is participating in relief and rescue efforts in 11 districts of rural Sindh. The army chief visited relief camps set up by the army in Umerkot, Badin, Mirpurkhas and Sanghar and expressed satisfaction at his force’s operations. Each relief camp can accommodate 7,000 people.

In these relief camps, free medical treatment is also being provided and around 1,000 tons of food has been distributed since relief efforts began earlier this month.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd,  2011.