Electricity bills of August & September of flood-affected people have been condoned: PM Shehbaz
SOHBATPUR, Sep 14 (SABAH): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that the electricity bills of August and September of flood-affected people have been condoned, adding that we will sit and consider and provided support in this regard wherever it is needed. PM Shehbaz Sharif has also announced to wave off the fuel adjustment surcharge on electricity bills up to 300 units for the month of September for all Pakistanis. He said that Rs 14 billion relief is being provided to 21 million electricity consumers of whole country in form of fuel adjustment surcharge for the month of September. PM Shehbaz Sharif said that the people of Pakistan have been given Rs 35 billion relief in form of fuel adjustment surcharge for the month of August. He said that the destruction from the flood is so vast that the things could not be improved overnight but we will do our best.
Talking to media persons during a visit to rains and flood-affected district of Sohbatpur in Balochistan on Wednesday, PM Shehbaz Sharif said that the federal and provincial governments in collaboration with Pakistan Army are working to provide relief to people in flood-affected areas across the country. He said all-out efforts are being made to help flood-affected people.
He said 24 billion rupees cash assistance has so far been disbursed through Benazir Income Support Programme among the flood-affected families, adding that total Rs 70 billion will be distributed among the flood affected people of whole country. Shehbaz Sharif said floods have damaged the power transmission system, roads infrastructure and internet.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned of a perilous outbreak of water and vector-borne diseases while ordering the rapid dewatering of the flooded areas. “Infectious diseases are spreading in the flood-affected areas. Controlling the outbreak is crucial,” the premier said.
PM Shehbaz Sharif cautioned that dealing with disease outbreak will become difficult if measures to limit the spread are not taken. Appropriate steps should be taken for dewatering with the help of additional machinery and resources, he stressed.
Balochistan chief secretary, while briefing the prime minister on the ongoing efforts to deal with flood-related damages, said that 128 roads in the province were dilapidated, out of which 91 have been restored. He further stated that a plan of Rs11 billion has been worked out for livestock rehabilitation.
PM Shehbaz Sharif also ordered the district administration to immediately resolve the drinking water problems in Sohbatpur.
He directed the authorities concerned to ensure the availability of drinking water and life-saving medicines on priority in Sohbatpur’s area of Balochistan, severely damaged by floods.
The prime minister reviewed the relief arrangements and later addressed the flood victims in the area.
He also announced continuation of the government’s facility in September to waive off Fuel Adjustment Charges for electricity consumers across the country on usage up to 300 units.
The premier further stated that the facility would be extended beyond the flood-relief areas, benefiting around 210 million consumers in the country.
Moreover, he said a mechanism would be established to revive the crops of wheat and cotton in the flood-affected areas.
In view of the scarcity of drinking water in Sohbatpur, he said, two trucks carrying bottled water would reach in the area by tonight (Wednesday) while 10 tonnes of the commodity would be available in the next two days.
He said that the coalition government along with the provincial government was making utmost efforts to provide relief to the people in flood-hit areas.
Serving the masses, he said, was the noblest deed “instead of indulging in politicking as done by some leaders” even in the grave flood situation.
Meanwhile, Member Balochistan Assembly Saleem Khosa complained that Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Qudus Bizenjo is “not attentive” towards Sohbatpur. “There is no arrangement for dewatering the land in this area,” he claimed.
Federal Ministers Muhammad Israr Tareen, Agha Hassan Baloch and other high officials were also present on the occasion.