Kaira denies rift between federal, provincial governments

ISLAMABAD Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira Friday denied any rift between the federal and provincial governments, arguing the federation was trying to take everybody along. Addressing a press conference, Minister appeared to be agreeing with a demand by Sharif to hold inquiry into reports that some influential politicians in Sindh and southern Punjab were behind breaches of river bunds to save their lands. Denying rift between two parties, he said that we all should go under the system. Things will be dealt as per transparent manner, he said adding that no parallel survey was being conducted in Punjab. It may be mentioned here that PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif warned of dangerous consequences if the federal government bypassed provincial authorities in relief operations. Talking about relief items, Minister said that government would start giving an amount of Rs. 20,000 a family to over two million survivors from next Friday. Minister explained that the national identity cards would be only document to produce for seeking the official assistance. To a question, he said that government has received half of the amount from 460 million dollar appealed by the United Nations for relief of the flood affectees. Flood related death toll, he said, has risen to 1,633 while 1.24 m houses have been damaged. He said that relief agencies have evacuated 0.9 million people to the safer places. He informed said that a high flood of 7 to 9 lakh cusecs would remain at Kotri and Sukkur in the next seven to eight days.

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt