Rs10 bn Sindh flood relief fund established | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Rs10 bn Sindh flood relief fund established

Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Monday established a Rs10 billion Sindh Flood Relief Fund in view of the massive devastation caused by raging floods in several districts of the province where hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced.

According to a notification, the Sindh government has decided that all MPAs, cabinet members, including special assistants to the chief minister, and government employees in BS-01 to BS-22 (both provincial and district) will contribute the following amounts to the relief fund.

Ministers, advisers, special assistants and MPAs will contribute their one-month salary. Provincial and district government employees in Bs-17-22 will donate their five days salary while provincial and district government employees in Bs-1-16 will donate their one-day salary.

The deduction on account of the said contribution will be made from their salaries for the month of August, 2010, payable on September 1, 2010, in advance. The employees on contract basis or those of autonomous or semi autonomous bodies of the Sindh government will also have to pay the aforementioned amount.

The government has directed the Sindh accountant-general, district accounts officers and principal accounting officers to make the above deductions on August 9, 2010.Meanwhile, focal person of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Iffat Malik told The News that around 0.6-0.8 million people have been evacuated so far. She said the floods have affected around 0.8-0.9 million people.

The Irrigation and Power Department spokesman has said in a statement that the “super flood” was passing through the Guddu barrage with a discharge of 11,48,738 cusecs of water and the same situation will prevail during the next 24 hours.

It is likely that the discharge at the Sukkur barrage may pass in the range of 11, 00,000 cusecs to 11, 50,000 cusecs within the next 24 hours. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority has urged the people to help the victims in cash and kind of dry ration such as dates, milk, biscuits, bottled drinking water, soaps, cakes, hygiene kits, medicine and blankets.

Meanwhile, Corps Commander Lieutenant-General Shahid Iqbal visited Kashmore, Kandh Kot and Qadirabad to inspect the rescue and relief efforts of the troops. He asked the soldiers to gear up their efforts and perform this task as a national duty.

While briefing the corps commander, General Officer Commanding Major-General Nasrullah Tahir Dogar said that the relief and rescue work was being done through boats, vehicles and Army helicopters.
Source: The News
Date:8/10/2010