Gujranwala worst hit by flood: Khawaja Asif

Defence minister briefs joint session of Parliament on causes of the deluge and the scale of devastation

ISLAMABAD:

Rain-triggered floods and terrorism stole the limelight away from the political imbroglio — created by the anti-government sit-ins of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) — at Tuesday’s joint session of parliament.

Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif briefed parliamentarians on the causes of the flood, its devastation and government’s efforts for relief and rehabilitation. The minister also said the death toll from the calamity had reached 188.

“The floods have partially damaged 1,242 houses and swept away 191 houses. Some 1,053 villages have been affected by rain and flash floods while standing crops spread out on 325,000 acres of land lies damaged,” he said.

He said the floods had affected nearly half a million people. “Over 18,200 people have been evacuated while 2,000 people are living in relief camps. Over 450 health centres have been established for the flood survivors,” he told the house.



Khawaja Asif, who also holds portfolio of water and power ministry, said Gujranwala district was the worst affected by floods. “Flooding in River Chenab caused mass destruction but deaths in the Sargodha division were caused by primarily by heavy rains, not flooding,” he pointed out.

The minister acknowledged that the government had received information of an exceptionally high flood on September 6. “The Met office could not predict it and the reason of the current calamity is climate change,” he said.

Asif said all the flood-related agencies were working beyond their capacity and resources to tackle the situation.  “The agencies, including National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and district administrations, are working tirelessly to cope with the flood situation.”

He called upon all the political parties to respond to the current crisis without politicising it. “It is a national tragedy and leaders from all political shades must rise to the occasion and demonstrate unity for the assistance of the victims,” he said.

The government, according to him, was working to its best ability, despite the catastrophe of flashfloods and the limited time for precautions. He also made an appeal for an increase in the funds received by the Met Office and the flood commission.

Responding to a call of Senator Raza Rabbani from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to take the house into confidence regarding terrorist attack on Karachi Naval Dockyard, Khawaja Asif disclosed that the attack was carried out with the complicity of some of naval officials, who had been apprehended.

He, however, said he could only present the accurate picture before the house today (September 10) after getting a briefing from the relevant authorities.

No one in the house paid much heed to to the PTI and PAT protests. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also remained busy in consultation with cabinet members on the front row of the treasury benches.

Senator Kalsoom Perveen, who is also a member of the opposition’s political Jirga,  called the protesters’ demand for the PM’s resignation as unjustified.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2014.