ISLAMABAD: The government of Sindh and the World Bank have inked an agreement to fund the construction of 700,000 houses for flood-affected people in the province, WealthPK reports.
The recent devastating floods have caused huge losses to every sector and the initiative is meant to help the affected people in Pakistan.
Dr Ayaz Ahmad from the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) told WealthPK that almost 800,000 houses were destroyed by the recent floods and millions of people were displaced. He added that the displaced people were living under the open sky.
He said that it was a significant step for the Sindh government and the World Bank to finance the construction of 700,000 houses for flood victims. It will minimise the difficulties of the affected people.
The owners of completely damaged houses will receive Rs300,000 each from the Sindh government with the help of the World Bank while owners of partially damaged homes will get an amount of Rs50,000.
“The floods have very badly damaged the education sector so schools have also been included in the project. The schools will be equipped with computers and other modern facilities,” said Dr Ayaz Ahmad.
He said that the health sector was also badly affected by the floods. He said that different water-borne diseases were spreading in the flood-affected areas. “A medical clinic with advanced technology will be established by the government for the protection and healthcare of the people in each affected area. Basic medical facilities would be provided to the local population,” he added.
Dr Ayaz Ahmad said that the government would provide flood victims with incentives and their damaged houses would be repaired. The construction of houses would be initiated by both the public and private sectors, he added.
He said that hundreds of thousands of houses were damaged and destroyed while many public health facilities, water systems and schools were also affected by the floods. He said that as the floodwater receded, the crisis became an acute child survival challenge. “Frail and hungry children are fighting a losing battle against malnutrition, diarrhoea, malaria, typhoid, severe respiratory infections and painful skin conditions,” he added.
Dr Ayaz Ahmad said that Global Organisation for Human Empowerment and Rights (GOHER) would help 50 flood victim families in Rahim Yar Khan district in rebuilding their houses by providing them with better construction materials like cement, stone, timber and sanitary items along with technical support and labour. “This project will facilitate them to overcome their economic and social issues by introducing viable and flood-resistant housing arrangements,” he added.
He said that the government decided to give a subsidy on seeds and fertilisers to farmers in the flood-hit areas. The subsidy will be given to farmers for the upcoming Rabi season on a cost-sharing basis with the provinces. “The government has also planned to provide a subsidy on wheat and edible oil seeds and one fertiliser bag per acre to farmers in the flood-affected areas of the country,” Dr Ayaz Ahmad told WealthPK.
