CMs asked to ensure economic revival

DADU Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday said the government would not leave the flood affectees alone, vowing to take all-out measures for their rehabilitation. He also asked the chief ministers to improve economic conditions of their provinces. Gilani has admitted that pace of Watan Cards distribution among the flood victims is slow. He was addressing a big gathering, which was organised in connection with the mass marriage ceremony of flood-affected couples. The Prime Minister announced Rs 200 million grant for the development projects and rehabilitation of the flood-hit people of two constituencies of National Assembly in Dadu district. The Prime Minister earlier visited the relief camp at Ustad Bukhari Degree College Dadu and exchanged Eid greetings with the flood victims and distributed Watan Cards among their family heads. The Prime Minister said besides Rs200 million the government is planning to provide maximum incentives to flood victims so that they could restart their life and overcome the losses. He said the unprecedented flood had caused heavy losses, however the government is taking various measures for early rehabilitation of the flood-hit people. The government has started Watan Cards distribution to heads of the flood-affected families so that they could get Rs 100,000 each and restart their normal life, he said and added that Nadra has also been directed to speed up the distribution of the cards. Gilani said to get Watan Card is the right of flood victims and it should be given to them as soon as possible. He said Nadra officials have been directed to remove all faults in the distribution of the cards. He said most of the flood-affected families suffered less than Rs 100,000 loss, but the government has formed a uniform policy of granting Rs 100,000 compensation to each family head through Watan Cards. The Prime Minister, who earlier had an aerial view of the flood-affected areas of Dadu, expressed his concern over the devastation caused by the floods and directed the departments concerned to waive off the utility bills in those areas. He directed the authorities concerned to conduct survey of those areas which were missed out earlier so that the utility bills of those areas could also be waived off. Referring to Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shahs demand for writing off the agriculture loans in flood affected areas of the province, the Prime Minister assured to consider his proposal. The government would provide maximum incentives to help people restart their normal lives in the flood-affected areas, he added. The Prime Minister said the government is providing seeds and fertilizers free of cost to the flood-affected growers, so they could cultivate their agricultural land and improve their socio-economic condition. On the request of Sindh Chief Minister, the Prime Minister assured to consider additional supply of irrigation water to Sindh province. He said that remodelling of Dadu district will be made soon. Prime Minister also met with 300 families who were affected by floods while eight bride and grooms also got married.

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt