JACOBABAD, Jul 30 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday visited the flood-hit areas of Balochistan to review rescue, relief, and rehabilitation measures.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) officers, chief secretary Balochistan, and NDMA Chairman Lt. General Akhtar Nawaz briefed the prime minister about the rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts in the flood-affected areas of the province, PM Office Media Wing said.
The prime minister took an aerial view of Goth Ali Mardan Shambani in district Jhal Magsi and other affected areas to assess the losses and the chief secretary of Balochistan during the flight gave details about the flood situation and the relief operations.
He stopped at the Shambani village and met with the people affected by the floods.
The Prime Minister directed for establishing of a medical camp and the provision of medicines for the affected village.
He also ordered the posting of a veterinary doctor for the livestock and asked the authorities to immediately arrange two boats and rations for the villages and speed up the relief activities for the affectees.
Chief Secretary Balochistan immediately sent additional teams for relief activities in the flood-affected areas. In line with the instructions of the PM, later on, the medical camp was established, relief goods and medicines were delivered and a veterinary doctor arrived at the Shambani village.
Talking to the media, the PM said he came to Balochistan to assess losses in affected areas including Quetta, Zhob, Chaman, Killa Saifullah, Loralai, and Lasbella.
The Prime Minister had held a meeting with the chief ministers and chief secretaries of provinces a few days ago in Islamabad and decided on the relief measures.
Shehbaz Sharif said 300 people including 124 in Balochistan lost their lives in the flood-affected areas, adding the government would give Rs one million each to the families of those who lost their lives. The provincial government would also give Rs one million to the families of the victims.
He said the government would also give Rs 500,000 each for totally damaged houses and Rs 200,000 for partially damaged houses.
He said he had constituted four committees that would hold consultation with the provinces, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit Baltistan governments to assess the losses of livestock and damage to the crops, adding in the next meeting in Islamabad on August 3, the situation after the floods would be further reviewed.
Federal Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb, member of National Assembly Sardar Khalid Magsi, Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Minister for Housing Moulana Abdul Wasay, Minister of State for Power Muhammad Hashim Notezai, Special Assistant to PM Syed Fahd Hussain also accompanied the Prime Minister during the visit.
