Reaching out: PPP to work with govt for flood relief, says Bilawal

Promises to assist in Punjab; party delegation visits relief camps

FAISALABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party has pledged to support the government in an effort to speed up rehabilitation efforts for those affected by the flood.

Speaking with displaced persons in Rajao Saddat here on Thursday, PPP Patron-in-Chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the party would not abandon the people in their hour of trial.

Bilawal plans to visit flood-affected areas in Punjab as well and said the extent of damage in the areas would be assessed in order to aid relief efforts and create a long-term strategy to deal with such disasters.

The PPP leader reached Chiniot via helicopter and was accompanied by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah, former federal minister Qamaruz Zaman Qaira, Rana Farooq Saeed Khan, Sherry Rehman and PPP Punjab president Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo. En route to Rajao Saddat, the convoy’s vehicle was trapped in mud and the PPP leaders switched vehicles before Bilawal proceeded on foot to meet those affected by the flood.

The PPP leaders visited Kila Lange, Buhana and Sayeed Basti, where they also distributed food in the relief camps. Bilawal was welcomed by the locals who chanted slogans in favour of the party and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Bilawal said he plans to organise a meeting with PPP leaders in Punjab at the residence of former MPA Hassan Murtaza in Chiniot in order to discuss how the party can aid relief work.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2014.