PPP, PML-N join hands to tackle flood challenge
* Gilani, Nawaz agree to set up body to raise funds for rehabilitation of flood victims and to monitor damage assesment process for judicious distribution of resources
By Vidya Rana
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Saturday joined hands to cope with the worst-ever floods in the country and agreed on setting up a body to raise funds for the rehabilitation of flood victims.
Addressing a joint press conference after a meeting at the Prime Minister’s House, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif expressed shock and grief over the wide scale devastation that displaced around 20 million people and caused losses worth billions of rupees.
The two leaders expressed the resolve to work together for the rehabilitation of the flood-affected people.
“On the suggestion of Nawaz Sharif, the government has decided to set up an independent commission, comprising of impartial, non-controversial and principled individuals to raise funds for rehabilitation of flood victims and to monitor the damage assessment process for judicious distribution of resources to provinces”, the prime minister said, adding that the commission will mobilise resources and oversee the spending of funds to maintain a high level of transparency.
Nawaz said there was a dire need of setting up an independent and non-controversial body to mobilise public for funds contribution and to win their trust for the appropriate use of money in a transparent manner.
“I proposed few names for the body which the prime minister has approved. A ten-members body, commission, or committee, would open its own account. It will also oversee the damage and need assessment process in flood-affected areas. The government would be the first to donate funds to the account of this body”, Nawaz said and added, “I and the prime minister will go to the public to seek their generous support for flood victims”.
Nawaz said there is no question that the losses and damages caused by flood are huge but we will not beg for help. However, we will appreciate if the international community comes to support the recovery and rehabilitation activities.
Responding to a question on damage assessment, the prime minister said it is hard to assess the losses at this point of time.
Source: Daily Times
Date:8/15/2010
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