Jafarabad a model district for reconstruction

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday declared Jafarabad as a model district for the redevelopment and reconstruction efforts to serve as an example for implementing technology-based solutions to flood issues in a planned and transparent manner.

Zardari, accompanied by his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who is also chairman of PPP, and his daughter Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, visited the flood-stricken areas in Sindh and Balochistan.

At a briefing session in Dera Murad Jamali, also attended by former prime minister Zafarullah Jamali, the President announced a grant of Rs50 million for relief operations in Jafarabad and Naseerabad districts in addition to the Rs50 million provided by the government for relief goods from the utility stores through the Pakistan Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).

The President also announced another Rs30 million to be diverted from the development funds of the 14 provincial MPs in the province and urged other MPs to follow suit.

Farhatullah Babar, spokesman for President Zardari, quoted him as saying that on average 30-40 tons of relief goods are transported every day from Quetta by the federal government, adding that if need be the federal supplies will be augmented further.

Bilawal Bhutto and Bakhtwar Bhutto Zardari also separately visited relief camps and hospitals, commiserated with the flood survivors and assured them that the entire nation was with them in their hour of distress.

The briefing was informed that ten helicopters and 16 boats were continuously operating in the area that looked like a huge lake. So far nearly 25,000 people have been rescued and moved to safer places by the boats and helicopters, which have also provided over 25,000 tents and 20,000 blankets.

The President paid tributes to the people of adjoining districts of Naseerabad, Sibi, Bolan and Quetta for accommodating the IDPs moving from Jafarabad district as well as the Sindh province.

During a visit to the Turkish Emergency Hospital, Zardari talked with the medics and thanked Turkey and the international community for their generous assistance. He made special mention of the medical establishments provided by Turkey and Oman, while another one from Germany was on its way to Usta Muhammad.

Later, the President visited Garhi Khuda Bakhsh and offered fateha at the mausoleum of the Bhuttos before returning to Sukkur.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2010.