KANJU/ KOHISTAN/ KALAM    -   Prime Minister Mu­hammad Shehbaz Shar­if on Wednesday an­nounced Rs10 billion for the flood-affected populace of Khyber Pa­khtunkhwa as flood re­lief assistance.

Addressing a gath­ering of flood-affected people here, the prime minister said that the amount would be spent for the relief and re­habilitation of the flood-hit people of the province. The federal government, National Disaster Management Authority and the pro­vincial administration, through close coordi­nation, would ensure transparency and im­mediate disbursement in the affected areas.

The prime minister said earlier, the feder­al government had al­ready announcedRs15 billion for Sindh prov­ince and Rs10 billion for Balochistan prov­ince respectively. The prime minister opined that it was a collective responsibility of all the governments to work for the provision of relief to the flood-hit public and ensure that the allocated grants should be spent in a transparent manner and upon the deserving people.

“I will continue visiting the af­fected areas till the last affect­ed person is rehabilitated,” he added. He said that the feder­al government had allocated an amount of Rs 28 billion which was being disbursed among the affectees through NDMA and Benazir Income Support Programme. He said every af­fected family was given a cash amount of Rs 25,000 whereas each family was entitled to Rs1 million that had lost its near or dear one. The prime minister while expressing his grief and pain over the large-scale trag­edy said that more than1,000 lives had been lost including 300 children. He said the cash support extended by the federal government was no substitute for the loss of lives as the be­reaved families would continue to mourn the death of their rel­atives for long, but it was the re­sponsibility of the government to provide maximum comfort in this hour of grief.

The prime minister said that the latest reports were show­ing further damages caused by widespread flash floods across the country, adding, about 5000 kms roads were damaged. He also appreciated the relevant authorities, provincial gov­ernments, NDMA, PDMA and armed forces for their rescue and relief activities. All author­ities concerned had been doing whatever was possible, in a co­ordinated manner, to alleviate the sufferings of the flood-af­fected people, he added.

The prime minister thanked the Army Chief and the Air Chief for the provision of air helicop­ters and assistance in the ongo­ing operations.

He assured that by tomorrow, all the trapped tourists would be evacuated from these areas.

In Sindh, KPK, Balochistan and Punjab provinces, colos­sal damages were reported, he said, adding, over a thou­sand lives were lost, and stand­ing crops were completely de­stroyed. About 700,000 animals were swept away while millions had been living under the open skies. Large-scale damage was caused to the houses and other connectivity infrastructure.

The prime minister also ex­pressed his gratitude to friend­ly countries like Turkiye, UAE, and others for providing re­lief goods. The UAE was con­tinuously sending relief goods worth $50 million through dif­ferent flight operations.

A train had left from Istan­bul whereas the United States had pledged humanitarian as­sistance for the flood affectees. The UN had issued US$160mil­lion flash appeal, he added. The prime minister referring to the International Monetary Fund load facility said that it en­sured that Pakistan was out of the woods, and expressed opti­mism that it should be the last IMF programme.

He stressed that they would have to work hard and tap the natural resources and the im­mense talent possessed by the people, besides boosting the in­dustrial and agriculture sectors.

“With collective efforts, we will stand on our feet and real­ise the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Togeth­er, we will have to face all the challenges with full prepared­ness and restore the bygone glory of Pakistan among the co­mity of nations,” he said, add­ing the people tasked with serv­ing of masses should strive to discharge their responsibilities with devotion and sincerity.

About his visit to the areas, the prime minister said that today, he met with different people and tourists and witnessed the dam­ages caused to hotels and other infrastructure. Different hotels and buildings were construct­ed along the river course which caused the disaster, he said, add­ing that he would also under­take visits to other flood-affect­ed areas of KPK.

‘ALL POSSIBLE SUPPORT TO FLOOD AFFECTED PEOPLE’

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday assured the flood affectees that the federal coalition govern­ment would not rest till the re­habilitation of the last affected person. Addressing a gathering of the affectees, the prime min­ister said in this hour of trial, the federal coalition government, expressed its solidarity with the flood victims and assured them that they would stand with them in this hour of trial.

The federal government, Na­tional Disaster Management Authority, Provincial Disaster Management Authority and oth­er relevant departments were there to serve the affectees and alleviate their sufferings, he added. The prime minister said the government was providing Rs25,000 amount to each af­fected family, besides a compen­sation amount of Rs1 million for the deceased. 

He further assured that the federal government would pro­vide the required stuff including tents, food and other non-food items to the affected people.

The prime minister said in the recent calamity, the people had lost their livestock and homes.

Expressing gratitude to the brotherly countries like King­dom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and Iran and friendly countries like China, UK, the US and oth­ers including the UN, he said the UAE was providing relief goods worth $50 million whereas US had announced $30 million in relief assistance. The UN had launched $160 million flash ap­peal for the flood affectees.

The prime minister further said that they would take col­lective decisions and ensure that the deserving families should get the relief assistance in a transparent manner and stressed that the relevant quar­ters would have to take the re­sponsibility in this regard. 

The prime minister also ex­pressed his deep grief and sor­row over the loss of lives in the flash floods and torrential rains.

‘EVACUATION OF TOURISTS ON EMERGENCY BASIS’

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the relevant authorities to immediately evacuate tourists from the area who were trapped there after the link roads dam­aged by recent flash floods.