PM vows no politics, discrimination in rehabilitation of flood-hit people

Dera Ismail Khan: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Thursday vowed to put in all possible efforts for rehabilitation of the flood-affected people of Pakistan, letting no political differences or discrimination impede the process.

The prime minister, during his visit to the flood-ravaged area of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s district here, said though the province was ruled by another party but it should make no difference.

“As another party rules in this province. We have no difference with it at this point of time. We all have to do it collectively. This is the matter of Pakistan, the matter of you, your rehabilitation, your house and your children. God willing, you will see there will be no politics or discrimination in it,” he assured in his interaction with the people displaced by the flash floods.

He said that both the federal and provincial governments were working round the clock for relief of the affected population.

He said the federal government had announced Rs 1 million compensation for the deceased and conveyed a message to chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to increase the compensation amount from existing Rs0.8 million to 1 million to support the distressed families.

Moreover, the federal government would also provide Rs 250,000 each for the injured and Rs0.5 million for fully damaged houses and Rs 0.2 million each for partially damaged structures.

The prime minister also mentioned his interaction with Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on the subject who also assured all of the support to fulfill the collective responsibility of the rehabilitation of the displaced population.

He said following the completion of his visits to the affected areas, he would chair a meeting within a couple of days to assess the damage and strategize the compensation process.

However, the prime minister assured the locals that the government would not delay the reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure including roads and bridged destroyed by the flash floods.