KARACHI: An important meeting of the Co-ordination Committee for Flood Relief formed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan was chaired by Federal Minister for Water Resources Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah at the Sindh Secretariat on Thursday.
Federal Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister for Human Rights Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Federal Minister for Information Technology Amin-ul-Haque, Former Governor of Sindh Muhammad Zubair, MNA Sabir Hussain Qaimkhani, Maulana Rashid Soomro, and others participated in the meeting. In the meeting, Chief Secretary Sindh Dr. Muhammad Sohail Rajput, Secretary Irrigation and DG PDMA briefed the committee.
In the meeting, Federal Minister Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah said that many people have been affected by the rain and flood and there is a need to expand the scope of Benazir Income Support Program, for which he will recommend to the Prime Minister to expand the scope of Benazir Income Support Program to benefit maximum number of affected people. Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah added that along with the relief work in the affected areas, water extraction is also a big challenge.
In the meeting, other members of the committee also informed that they themselves are monitoring the entire situation. It was decided in the meeting that the members of the coordination committee will meet the concerned deputy commissioners and public representatives in all the divisions of the province to review the relief activities. In the meeting, Chief Secretary Sindh said that all deputy commissioners have already been instructed to keep in touch with public representatives for relief work.
Shah said that the Sindh Cabinet should take action against those encroaching on the natural water paths. On which Chief Secretary Sindh said that he will put this recommendation before the provincial cabinet. In the meeting, Sindh Chief Secretary Dr. Muhammad Sohail Rajput while giving a briefing said that the water pressure on Guddu Barrage and Sukkur Barrage has reduced. At present there is water pressure at Kotri barrage through which 6 lakh cusecs of water is passing today. He further said that water pressure has started decreasing from Qamber Shahdadkot and Dadu districts. The water pressure is now in 5 union councils of Sehwan and Bhan Saeedabad.
The Chief Secretary Sindh informed the committee about the damage caused by rain and flood and said that 23 districts of the province have been affected by rain and flood. “Rains and floods have killed 577 people, 6.2 million people have been forced to migrate due to rains and floods” he said. He further stated that 1732 relief camps have been established where 5 lakh 76 thousand people have been kept. He further stated that standing crops have been damaged on 32 lakh 79 thousand acres in the province. “120,000 animals died while poultry and fish farms have been completely destroyed in these areas” said CS Sindh.
The Chief Secretary Sindh Dr. Muhammad Sohail Rajput further informed about the relief provided by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority PDMA said that so far 3 lakh tents, 14 lakh 10 thousand mosquito nets and 1 lakh 71 thousand ration bags have been given in the province by the PDMA. He further said that 100,000 tents, 390,000 mosquito nets and 618,000 ration bags have also been ordered. While another 5,65,000 tents, 2,700,000 mosquito nets and 7,11,000 ration bags are still needed. Chief Secretary Sindh further informed that they are also working to supply clean drinking water to the people of the affected areas. He further said that 1100 health facilities have also been exposed to the water.
Mobile ambulance services have been started in the affected areas while the Sindh government has also released 750 million to ensure availability of the medicines. He further informed that 240 livestock camp hospitals have been established in the affected areas. “100 mobile hospitals have also been set up for the animals” he said. In the meeting, Secretary Livestock said that there is a dire need for animal fodder at this time. It has been written to provide funds to the government for the purchase of animal fodder.
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