Keeping in view the sheer scale of the flood disaster, which is much greater than the devastation caused by the 2004 Tsunami, Mian Nawaz Sharifs insistence that the government provide each of the flood affected families with Rs 100,000 as compensation and also to enable them to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr, hardly two weeks ahead, is not to be sneezed at. And so is his warning to the federal government to work in concert with the provincial governments and refrain from politicking. The reality of the situation, however, is that arranging Rs 100,000 per family will be no easy matter, especially since the rich countrymen willing to lend a helping hand and international donors alike do not repose much trust in the government on account of its corruption-tainted image. It was nonetheless heartening to hear Mr Nawaz say that the provinces have already agreed to pay Rs 20,000 to each family and that he was waiting for the federal government to contribute its share of the finances. The catch is that if the government gives too much cash, it runs the risk of running short of finances required for rescue and relief work like setting up makeshift camps, rebuilding homes and reconstruction efforts that would amount to rebuilding entire cities, towns and villages. But at the end of the day there can be no progress unless the government convinces the world that it will not pocket the aid money and spend every penny with total transparency. Since the formation of the independent aid commission can be the key to winning the confidence of those willing to donate, it must be set up at the earliest. Mr Sharif got it right that the people are willing to give generously but what is preventing them is the credibility issue. In all conscience, the question on everyones lips is will the money they donate go to the right hands? Mian Nawaz Sharif has also urged the political parties to refrain from indulging in mudslinging and instead channel their energies in helping out the flood victims. This advice becomes all the more important because the country desperately needs its rulers and the leadership to rise to the occasion. He rightly remarked that those calling for a martial law had better recall the dreadful legacy of the Musharraf era. His statement that the failure of the government can never be taken as the failure of democracy should be heeded by the MQM leadership, whose disposition for a rather desperate remedy calling on the 'patriotic generals to take the corrupt politicians to task can prove to be a recipe for further chaos.