President Alvi for transparent distribution of aid to the flood victims

NAWABSHAH/DADU Sep 15 (SABAH):  President Dr. Arif Alvi while talking to the media during his visit to the relief camp in Nawabshah and Dadu, Sindh, has underlined the need for setting up a transparent system for receiving and distribution of aid for ensuring it reaches the flood-hit population in a fair, effective and verifiable manner.

President Dr. Arif Alvi said that perhaps the current floods were the most catastrophic in nature so far faced by Sindh and witnessed by the people which led to loss of precious lives, livestock, livelihood of the people, besides the destruction of crops and vital infrastructures. He called for the construction of delayed action dams and large water storage bodies at appropriate locations to harness flood water and prevent the loss of livelihood, livestock and destruction of infrastructure in the future. He said that the Federal Government, provincial governments, their institutions, international community, NGOs and well-off people in Pakistan were doing their level best to provide rescue and relief services to the flood-affected people on a priority basis. He said that flood victims were being supported financially through BISP program. He said that the flood-hit areas were so large and the flood victims so many in number that the relief efforts would have to continue for a prolonged period of time to shield the flood victims from large-scale devastation caused by global warming-induced super floods across the country. He said that the economy of Pakistan which first suffered from COVID-related lockdowns, later hit hard by supply chain disruption in wake of the Russian-Ukraine war and now by a gigantic natural catastrophe in the form of floods.

President Dr. Arif Alvi said that the floods were due to global warming and climate change and Pakistan had a meagre share in exacerbating global warming. He emphasized developed world, being major contributor to global warming and climate change, should help Pakistan in providing rescue and relief to the victims of the floods and play their role in the rehabilitation of flood victims and restoration of destroyed infrastructure. He also called upon the privileged members of the society to come forward and help their brothers and sisters, especially women and children, who had lost their shelters and livelihoods and were in dire need of assistance to survive in these hard conditions. He said that there was a need to introduce and develop a farmer-friendly crops insurance system in Pakistan to save the farmers from crops losses and destruction of crops through manmade and natural calamities.

President Dr. Arif Alvi also announced financial assistance of 50 million each for NawabShah and Dadu which was given by the Punjab government. He visited various parts of the relief camps and enquired the flood victims about aid being given to them. The local administration also briefed the President about the devastation of the floods in the area. The President also took an aerial view of the flood-affected areas of NawabShah, Dadu and adjacent areas. He expressed his grave concern over stagnant flood water and submerged crops, houses and infrastructure. He said that it would take a lot of effort and coordination among various departments to drain out the flood water which, he said, would then enable the government to start the rehabilitation phase in these areas. He asked the relevant authorities to ensure safety and wellbeing of women, the elderly and children in the flood-hit areas.