Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed the authorities concerned to ensure the provision of Rs50,000 relief to each affected family in the flood-hit areas through a transparent process within the next three days.
Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) will provide Rs50,000 cash relief to every flood-affected family under the supervision of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), he directed while presiding over a meeting of the Relief Coordination Committee constituted for the flood-affected areas.
The meeting was attended by federal ministers Miftah Ismail, Ahsan Iqbal, Marriyam Aurangzeb, Murtaza Javed Abbasi, Maulana Asad Mehmood, Adviser to PM Qamar Zaman Kaira, Chairman NDMA Lt Gen Akhtar Nawaz and other relevant senior officials.
Minister for Housing Maulana Abdul Wasay, Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and Balochistan MPA Sanaullah Baloch attended the meeting via a video link.
The premier further said that the disbursement of cash relief should be ensured through electronic transfer so that the deserving people get the relief in time.
He directed the Flood Relief Coordination Committee to finalise the process of Rs50,000 cash relief disbursement and present its report by this evening.
The prime minister said that the joint survey in coordination with the provincial governments for the assessment of flood-related losses should be completed in three weeks instead of five.
“The provincial governments should also cooperate and coordinate with NDMA regarding the joint survey at the earliest and to ensure timely relief for the flood-affected people,” he added.
PM Shehbaz said that it was the provincial governments’ prerogative to become part of the federal government’s flood relief efforts. However, he added that the federal government will ensure the relief and rehabilitation of the flood-affected people through its own resources.
He also directed the information minister to formulate a comprehensive awareness campaign in this regard. The meeting was told that a survey will be conducted in coordination with the provincial governments to assess the damages caused by the recent spell of rains and floods.
It was further told that by the time survey was completed, the government, through BISP, will provide Rs30,000 cash relief to each flood-affected family.
The prime minister directed to enhance the cash relief to Rs50,000 for each affected family and disburse the same under the supervision of NDMA.
The meeting was further told that the federal government was in contact with international donors and other welfare institutions. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank have already assured to provide necessary funds for the reconstruction of destroyed infrastructure and rehabilitation activities in the flood-affected areas, it was informed.
Besides, the meeting was told that teams of doctors and paramedics have been sent to the flood-affected areas and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) was assessing the damages to affected educational institutions.
The Balochistan CM and Provincial Chief Secretary briefed the meeting in detail about the life and material losses in the province due to recent rains and the rescue and relief measures taken by the provincial government.
