Pakistan: Rs50m federal grant for rain-damaged houses

MARDAN: The federal government Sunday announced a Rs50 million grant for the rebuilding of houses damaged by heavy monsoon rains and floods in the NWFP. The grant is in addition to a matching allocation for the provincial government for rehabilitation of the devastated areas. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who visited this flood-hit district to see the ravages suffered by the people, made the announcement. He also distributed compensation cheques to relatives of those killed in the torrential rains. Addressing a public meeting, Aziz promised the federal government would pay the cost of reconstruction (estimated at estimated at Rs50 million) of the 19000 houses damaged by flash floods in the Frontier province. Also present on the occasion were Governor Mohammad Ali Jan Aurakzai, Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani, Federal Ministers Naseer Khan, Amir Muqam and Salim Saifullah Khan. Ahead of his flying trip here, the Cabinet's Emergency Relief Cell sent Rs55 million relief goods to the flood-hit areas of the NWFP and Punjab. Referring to the large-scale destruction, Aziz said there was no reason for politicising what he called a humanitarian issue. He insisted the government was doing its best to reach out to the people in need irrespective of political considerations. In a bid to remove resentment over the delay in his visit to the province, the prime minister argued inclement weather twice forced deferral of his trip. In the same breath, he added, he had all along been in contact with Chief Minister Durrani over the miseries caused by the deluge. Lauding the MMA government's role in coping with the aftermath of the calamity, Aziz went on to reassure the affectees. "We stand by you in this hour of trial and together we can face all challenges," he observed. The prime minister, who took an aerial view of the area, was briefed on the loss of lives and property. The damage caused to infrastructure including roads, bridges and water-supply schemes in the province is estimated at Rs321 million. The total loss comes to around Rs1 billion. The NWFP chief secretary informed him the provincial government had allocated Rs50 million for restoration and rehabilitation of irrigation schemes, another Rs50 million for roads and as much an amount for water pumps and earth-moving machinery. He was also informed about the losses in FATA, where 24 people perished in rain-related incidents. APP adds: The torrential rains over the past few weeks in 14 districts of the NWFP caused 194 deaths, damaged crops over 40,000 acres of land, thousands of houses and the farming community lost around 2500 animals. The total losses run in millions. He prayed for those who had lost their lives and asked their families to bear the loss with equanimity. He was appreciative of the coordinated efforts of the people, police, the civil administration and the army for their rescue and relief operations. He was informed the provincial government had allocated Rs50 million for restoration and rehabilitation of irrigation schemes, another Rs50 million for roads and Rs50 million for water pumps and earth moving machinery. Aziz said though the flash floods caused losses in some areas but the overall flood situation was under control due to the effective strategy of the federal and provincial governments in coordination with army. He said the authorities concerned were monitoring the situation to tackle any emergency. The Prime Minister said the rains have improved the water storage and would be beneficial for agriculture sector and for power generation. He said the entire nation strongly faced the difficult situation in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake of Oct 8 last year, and this time too it will meet the challenge. The prime minister said Pakistan was created as a result of numerous sacrifices and it was time the nation to pay rich tributes to Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. He also saluted the people of NWFP for their sacrifices for the creation of the country and said the entire nation needs to work with devotion, commitment and sincerity to make Pakistan prosperous and strong. Before his arrival in Mardan, the premier told newsmen in Islamabad his government would provide all possible assistance to flood affectees for their early rehabilitation. He said essential commodities worth 55 million rupees had so far been distributed to the affectees in the NWFP and the Punjab.