Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the NDMA to pay compensation within 24 hours to the families of those people who have died in the recent flood- and rain-related incidents.
The prime minister gave these directions while addressing on the occasion of his visit to Quetta on Monday where he would review the relief activities in the flood affected areas of Balochistan.
PM Shehbaz also ordered to increase the compensation amount for partially or fully destroyed houses to Rs500,000.
He said that it was our national tragedy that no attention was paid to dams in the country. The challenge before us is gigantic, but we all have to fight it together, he added. He appreciated the restoration and relief efforts of the NHA.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said that extraordinary heavy rains wreaked havoc on a vast scale, stressing the need to set up a network of medical camps in the affected areas.
He regretted that besides the loss of precious lives, the infrastructure was also destroyed. He expressed the resolve of the Federal and Balochistan governments for the restoration and rehabilitation of the flood-battered province. He called upon the rich to involve in the philanthropic activities in this hour of need.
Earlier, Chairman National Disaster Management Authority Lieutenant General
Akhtar Nawaz briefed the prime minister regarding relief and rescue
activities.
He said that Balochistan received 500% more rainfall during the recent rainy
spell which broke 30-year-old record.
While giving briefing, Balochistan chief secretary said that 136 people died
and 70 others sustained injuries so far. He, however, said that 1,100 people
received minor injuries in flood- and rain-related incidents and were given
first aid.
He said that 200,000 acre agricultural land had been inundated. As many as
20,500 people have been shifted to safer places, the CS said adding that M8
and Quetta-Karachi Highway had been restored and opened for traffic to a
great extent.
Federal Ministers Sardar Israr Tareen, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Maulana Abdul
Wasay, Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti, Minister of State Muhammad Hashim Notezai,
Member of National Assembly Salahuddin Ayubi and Chairman NDMA accompanied
the prime minister.
