The flood-hit areas look like giant oceans: Federal minister for climate change
KARACHI: The torrents from Balochistan have accentuated the impact of the downpour in upper Sindh, says the federal minister for climate change, Rana Farooque.
A press conference was organised on Monday in which the federal minister and provincial minister for rehabilitation, Haji Muzzaffar Shujra, had a chance to elaborate on the government’s plan to deal with the disaster.
“The recent downpour has broken all past records for rainfall. But water from the hilly areas of Balochistan is also gushing into Sindh, wreaking further havoc,” said the minister. He added that the government is contemplating building a large drain with the capacity to drain 50,000 cusecs to deal with stagnant rainwater.
He added that government will approach different stakeholders and the prime minister will also hold a meeting to review the situation. He said that the downpour in Sindh has killed 106 people and injured 4,000 others. The minister had recently visited the flood-hit districts to witness the devastation that the rainfall had wrought in several parts of the province. “The affected area looks like a big ocean. Officials are working round-the-clock to drain stagnant water,” he added.
The prime minister said the Rs2 billion would be given for relief work in the flood-hit areas of the province. Out of this amount, Rs200 million each will be given to the administration of Jacobabad and Kashmore. Around Rs100 million has been allotted to Shikarpur and Rs70 million each to Ghotki, Sukkur and Khairpur. “The Prime Minister has asked the finance department to release the amount quickly so that rations can be distributed to the displaced people,” said Farooque.
The federal minister said that crops have been damaged and livestock has been washed away. “We will provide seeds, fertilizers and other items to growers, who will be exempted from the revenue tax.”
The provincial minister for rehabilitation, Haji Muzaffar Ali Shujra, said, “We are working 24 hours to provide relief, but media is creating hype focusing negative stories only.”
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