SUKKUR: The federal government will provide a grant of Rs15 billion to the Sindh government to overcome the heavy losses of lives and infrastructure in the wake of the massive destruction caused by flash floods, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Friday.
“The situation demands rising above politics and helping the flood victims overcome their miseries,” he told reporters flanked by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and federal ministers including Bilawal Bhutto and Syed Khurshid Shah here at Sukkur Barrage.
Developments so far
PM Sharif, who earlier took an aerial view of the inundated areas of Sukkur, Rohri, Khairpur, Faiz Ganj, Kot Diji, and Thari Mir Wah, expressed serious concern over flood damages.
He said the coalition government would make collective efforts to alleviate the sufferings of the flood victims, adding that it would leave “no stone unturned” to facilitate the people who faced unprecedented loss in the wake of floods.
“Over 900 people died due to floods over the last few months, while the situation incurred a heavy toll on crops and livestock as well,” he added and directed the relief and rescue staff to be available round-the-clock on duties to help the flood victims.
The prime minister mentioned holding a meeting with envoys of various countries this morning, where he urged them to provide assistance to Pakistan in the hour of need.
PM Sharif lauded Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah for helping the flood-affected people across the province. He mentioned that he talked to the army and naval chiefs who assured full support in carrying out relief and rescue operations.
The prime minister said the grid stations in the flood-hit areas would be again switched on again after taking necessary measures. The power stations, after getting submerged in water, had been turned off keeping in view averting the incidents of electrocution of people.
He instructed the Federal Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir to remain available in Sindh to oversee the activities.
CM Murad urged the media to properly highlight the plight of the flood-affected people so as to apprise the international donor agencies about the true picture of devastation.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the moment was a “test” for all political parties of Pakistan to help the people of the country in this hour of need.
Army to be deployed in flood-hit areas
Ministry of Interior has approved the deployment of Pakistan Army in all four provinces to assist the civilian governments keeping in view the emergency situation due to heavy rains and floods.
The summary for deployment of the army under Article 245 of the Constitution was sent to the Federal Cabinet for final approval, said a press release issued here Friday.
The four provincial governments had sent a requisition to the Interior Ministry for deployment of army in the flood-affected areas.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that armed forces were being deployed to assist the civilian government in relief and rescue operations, under Article 245 of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa also reached Karachi where he was briefed about flood situations of Sindh and Balochistan and response measures to help the flood-affected people.
The Army Flood Relief centre has been set up at Headquarters Army Air Defence Command Rawalpindi to oversee and coordinate National Flood Relief efforts across the country in coordination with Military Operations Directorate.
The Flood Relief Centres being established in various parts of the country would assist collection, transportation and distribution of flood relief goods to flood victims in various provinces. The Army troops were shifting people to safer places, providing shelter, meals and busy in medical care to the flood-affected people.
PTI’s Imran visits flood affected areas
PTI chief Imran Khan and KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan arrived in Dera Ismail Khan and Tank to meet people affected by floods in the two districts.
“The situation is that devastations were more massive than floods in 2010 that hit Sindh, according to the reports we are receiving,” he told reporters.
Earlier, the governemnt said it would be reaching out to Islamabad based envoys today (Friday) to inform them about the gravity of the challenge and the need for help in the wake of flash floods and heavy rains. Internet and telecommunication signals were low in Balochistan and buildings swept away in Swat floods.
“I will be meeting Islamabad-based ambassadors & high commissioners tomorrow to apprise them of nature of challenge & need for help,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a tweet.
The government declared a national emergency in the country on Thursday as the death toll in heavy rains increased to 937, including 343 children, 198 female and 396 male. The premier would visit the affected areas in Sukkur.
The international organizations and financial institutions have so far pledged more than $500 million of immediate assistance for the flood victims on the appeal of the government. Premier Shehbaz also presided over a meeting with the international donors in Islamabad for providing relief to the flood victims after completing a two-day trip to Qatar.
PM Shehbaz had set up a ‘Prime Minister Relief Fund 2022’ to speed up the efforts to the assistance of the flood-hit people, highlighting the “crucial role” of the global role in such a process.
How much has been pledged for flood relief kitty?
“The country faces an emergency situation because of the historic rains and floods and a large number of people including women and children lost their lives,” he said, adding that houses, infrastructure, crops and orchards were destroyed, roads and bridges were washed away and land routes were cut off which made it difficult to carry out rescue and relief activities.
The relief activities were expanded with the help of the army. The devastation caused by floods was graver than what happened in 2010, he said, adding that affected people needed food, medicines, tents, and temporary shelters.
The premier elaborated that the government released Rs5 billion for the relief and heirs of every deceased were given the financial assistance of Rs1 million. “Each affected family was immediately given Rs25,000 and Rs80 billion were allocated for this purpose.”
What is the scale of damages?
Sindh’s Sakrand recorded the highest rainfall over the last 24 hours, with 220mm.
Internet, PTCL signals low in Balochistan
Voice and data services were impacted in Quetta, Ziarat, Khuzdar, Loralai, Pashin, Chaman, Panjgor, Zhob, Qila Saifullah and Qila Abdullah after heavy rains and flash floods damaged the optical fibre.
“Efforts are being made to resolve this unprecedented situation. PTA is monitoring the situation and further updates will be shared,” it said in a series of tweets.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd also reported the same problem in Northern and Central Balochistan due to the above mentioned problem.
“Our technical teams are trying their best to reach the areas to restore services on priority,” it said in a tweet.
Floods threaten Swat
Sindh to form committees for rescue, survey
District-level committees would be formed in Sindh to conduct a survey and damages assessment right from the village level so that proper relief could be provided to the rain-affected people.
“The purpose is to reach to the affected families and support them in a transparent, proper, and decent way,” Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said while presiding over a meeting here.
Committees comprise deputy commissioners, Corps-V representatives, engineering corps, local government, PDMA, and local communities. It would not only work for relief and survey but procure all the required materials and goods.
Officials said that the Provincial Disaster Management Authority has distributed 80,000 tents and has placed an order for another 180,000 tents amid demand for one million tents which was raised by the CM during a presser on Wednesday.
The chief minister said that the river Indus was in high flood, Guddu Barrage has 517,392 cusecs upstream and downstream flows, Sukkur Barrage 597,753 and Kotri 297,178 cusecs flows.
“Comparatively our embankments of our rivers are in a better position than the flood situation of 2010 and 2011 but even then, various vulnerable points are under pressure,” he said, adding that if the mountains range of Punjab received more rain the flows in the river would increase thereby exerting more pressure on the protective walls.
CM Murad said that the people living in the riverine belt had vacated their houses and had started lining the embankment of the river. They would migrate further to the main roads in case of any emergency situation.
(With input from APP, INP)
