‘Facing the flood’
By: SHER MOHAMMAD PAHANWAR
THIS is apropos your editorial ‘Facing the flood’ (July 7). It was pointed out that the Sindh government has started registering volunteers.
However, a section of the media had published and written an editorial quoting the People’s Accountability Commission on Floods (PACF) report titled ‘Analysis of funds allocations status to disaster – related initiatives and issues’.
In its report it mentioned that though Sindh had witnessed mega floods in 2010 and 2011, disaster preparedness, contingency planning and human relief were the lowest — funded sectors at provincial and district levels.The truth is that it still is not a top priority.
The potential of NDMA would be tested when canal breaches and embankments are repaired with quality work. Still, many rain flood communities have not yet been properly rehabilitated.
According to PACF report, the provincial DMA did not have enough funds to hire and train its staff.
The report also stated that the federal and provincial governments had so far spent Rs23.5bn for distribution of relief items, Pakistan Card, Rabi Package and rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure.
However, irregularities in distributing cash and relief items caused damage to the rehabilitation process.
Owing to poor governance of the irrigation department 45 sensitive points at river embankments were not restored.
Furthermore, the approved budget of the province does not cover compensation programme for the livestock, fisheries, poultry, and shelter to support the thousands of the rain — affected families, according to the report.
People should make Sindh’s ruling elites accountable and think realistically as to why they should give votes to them.
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