Relief for IDPs: Govt to pay each family Rs7,000

In addition, govt will pay an additional Rs 25,000 to every family for rehabilitation once the operation ends.

ISLAMABAD:

Despite making tall claims about how it intends to tend to North Waziristan’s displaced population, the government is planning to distribute only a modest cash assistance of Rs 7,000 to every family to meet their food and living expenses.

The government came to this decision on Tuesday after the Minister for States and Frontier Region Abdul Qadir Baloch held a meeting with the head of the National Disaster and Management Authority (NDMA), chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and representatives of various ministries to oversee the issues related to the internally displaced persons.

It was decided that instead of supplies the government would provide the IDPs with cash assistance.

In addition, the government will pay an additional Rs 25,000 to every family for rehabilitation once the operation ends.

Meanwhile, the government has also decided to use the biometric system to register IDPs. The SAFRON minister has tasked NADRA for the registration of IDPs. Four centres have also been established in Bannu, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan and Lakki Marwat.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2014.