Cyclone affectees will not be left in lurch, says Raisani

QUETTA-Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Muhammad Aslam Khan Raisani has said that the provincial government was completely aware of the problems of affected people of cyclone and torrential rains and assured that affectees would not be left in the lurch. He expressed these views while responding to point of orders in Balochistan Assembly that met with Speaker Aslam Bhootani in the chair after delay of 1.15 hours here on Monday. Provincial Minister for Irrigation Sardar Muhammad Aslam Bizenjo while talking on a point of order, drew the attention of the House towards loss caused by cyclone and torrential rains. He said that thousands of people from Gwadar to Gudani were badly affected by the cyclone and heavy downpours that hit different coastal areas of Balochistan and announcement of mere Rs 50 million was not sufficient. Provincial Minister for Gwadar Development Authority, Zahoor Buledi said that more than 50 per cent houses were destroyed due to cyclone winds and heavy showers that triggered flash water in Gwadar and its surrounding areas. He said that 20 vessels costing 1.5 lakh each while 25 big boats costing 15 million each of fishermen were sunk which was the main source of the earning of people of the coastal areas. Responding to the point of orders of member, Nawab Aslam Khan Raisani said that owing to harsh weather, he could not visit the affected areas and ,added, that he was in touch with the local administration and all out efforts were being made to help the affected people. He rejected the news items published in the some newspapers that affectees were not being given proper help and said that FWO had started work to repair the damaged roads to restore the land link of coastal areas with the rest of the country and hopefully, it would be restored till Tuesday (today). He said that during the meeting of provincial Cabinet the members announced to donate their one month salary for the affected people. 'Government is fully aware about the difficulties of the affected people, he said ,adding, that he alongwith other members of the Assembly would visit the affected areas. He said that he was aware about the difficulties of people of Balochistan from Mekran to Zhob and ,added, that relief items would reach affected areas on Tuesday (today). Balochistan Senior Provincial Minister, Maulana Abdul Wasay said that disasters came from God and stopping them was beyond the reach of human being, however, he said that its losses and affects could be lessened through taking preemptive steps. He appreciated the government steps, saying if government had not taken timely steps perhaps there would be more destruction and causalties. PPP Parliamentary leader, Mir Sadiq Umrani said that after getting information about the natural disaster, administration was issued directives for taking steps for the safety of people and their property. Provincial Minister Syed Ehsan Shah of BNP-Awami, Engineer Zamrak Khan of ANP and Dr. Agha Irfan Karim of PPP demanded that though government had taken steps for the relief and rescue of affected people of coastal areas of Balochistan, more should be done in this regard as heavy rains and flash flood had inflicted huge loss to the people. On another point of order, Provincial Minister for Irrigation Aslam Bizenjo drew the attention of the House towards misappropriation of Rs 200 million by a company in former government and after one month the company namely Allahwallah declared itself as defaulter. He demanded of the provincial government to take legal action against the company so that at least the amount of Balochistan could be brought back. Chief Minister Balochistan announced three member committee headed by provincial Ministers, including Mir Asim Kurd Giloo, Maulana Abdul Wasay and Sardar Aslam Bizenjo to look into the matter. He said that the committee would probe into the matter and would not allow anyone to loot the money of the people. Two bills were tabled in the House for approval including Quetta Water and Sanitation Authority Act 2010 and Lasbela University of Agriculture and Water Marine Sciences Act 2010 moved by provincial Ministers for WASA and Education Habib-ur-Rehman, Muhammad Hassani and Tahir Mehmood Khan respectively. Earlier, Speaker Aslam Bhootani again took oath of Speaker after approval of 18th Amendment.

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