Pakistan lacks resources to counter natural calamities: Nawaz
Prime minister proposes a national committee on prevention of floods
WAZIRABAD:
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif admitted on Wednesday that the government lacks the resources to counter natural calamities, but felt the government still needed to take remedial measures to avert floods in the future.
“A national committee on prevention of floods is the need of the hour to propose measures to prevent floods and mitigate losses in the future,” the premier said while speaking at a ceremony in Wazirabad.
PM Nawaz accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited Wazirabad today to distribute the first installment of Rs25,000 cash assistance among flood victims.
“Pakistan lacks resources to counter natural calamities,” the premier solemnly admitted, adding that the government is facing a tough time deciding how to allocate money between those displaced due to the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan, on the provision of health and electricity and on the rehabilitation of flood victims.
“Helping flood victims is the obligation of the government and we will not sit at ease till the time the last flood victim is compensated,” Nawaz reiterated.
PM Nawaz further said the government is working on rescue and relief operations and rehabilitation of the victims is the government’s top priority.
The premier thanked Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif for his "tireless" efforts in rescue and relief operations.
Floods wreaked havoc this year claiming 359 lives in Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir and affecting over 1.7 million people, according to the National Disaster Management Authority.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif admitted on Wednesday that the government lacks the resources to counter natural calamities, but felt the government still needed to take remedial measures to avert floods in the future.
“A national committee on prevention of floods is the need of the hour to propose measures to prevent floods and mitigate losses in the future,” the premier said while speaking at a ceremony in Wazirabad.
PM Nawaz accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited Wazirabad today to distribute the first installment of Rs25,000 cash assistance among flood victims.
“Pakistan lacks resources to counter natural calamities,” the premier solemnly admitted, adding that the government is facing a tough time deciding how to allocate money between those displaced due to the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan, on the provision of health and electricity and on the rehabilitation of flood victims.
“Helping flood victims is the obligation of the government and we will not sit at ease till the time the last flood victim is compensated,” Nawaz reiterated.
PM Nawaz further said the government is working on rescue and relief operations and rehabilitation of the victims is the government’s top priority.
The premier thanked Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif for his "tireless" efforts in rescue and relief operations.
Floods wreaked havoc this year claiming 359 lives in Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir and affecting over 1.7 million people, according to the National Disaster Management Authority.