PM determined to pay damages of Gwadar victims as per rules, law

Gwadar: Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif Tuesday reached Gwadar.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfarar Bugti and other assembly members also reached Gwadar and welcomed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Chief Secretary Balochistan, Commissioner Makran and Deputy Commissioner were also present on this occasion.

Speaking to the media on the occasion of the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that no effort will be spared to help the victims, a comprehensive program should be prepared and presented for the victims.

He stated that your houses are submerged, how can we sit in Islamabad, adding ‘I have come to Gwadar at the first opportunity’. A system should be established for forecasting disasters through modern technology and satellites.

Officials of the local administration, while briefing the Prime Minister, said that due to the stormy rains, other areas including Jeoni were damaged, due to which the internet service was affected. The examinations in the schools were postponed.

He was also told in the briefing that 3100 houses were affected in Gwadar and 2500 houses in Jeoni, 95 houses were completely destroyed and more than 200 cattle were killed.

The administration further stated that 355 people were kept in government residences, briefing 800 people were rescued and shifted to their relatives' homes and rescue operations are still underway while two army and navy medical camps have been set up.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif also distributed relief cheques to the victims.

Speaking to the victims, Sharif added that the torrential rains started here on February 26 that caused havoc in Gwadar and other parts of Balochistan. Thank God, no one was killed in Gwadar.

Shehbaz Sharif continued to say that five people have died due to rains in Balochistan, may Allah forgive them. ‘I congratulate and pay tribute to Sarfraz Bugti from the bottom of my heart that he got here soon after swearing in,’ he said.

The premier also said that giving aid is not our favor to you, it is the duty of the newly elected government. We are here to express sympathy with you, your losses will be paid according to the rules and laws. Pakistan Army, Navy I am also thankful to Coast Guard officers and personnel and Provincial Disaster Management (PDM) Sindh.

I am also thankful to the relevant institutions who have delivered equipment for water discharge here, I am thankful to everyone, the Balochistan government has established a medical center here, providing medicines, may God bless everyone for these works, stated the Prime Minister.

Mian Shehbaz further stated that Allah's command is to stand with your brothers in times of trouble. I assure you that there will be no failure in this service, you know that in 2022 the entire Balochistan was devastated by floods, I reached all the places in Balochistan.

He continued to say that during the floods, I also went to Sindh and Punjab, our coalition government distributed 100 billion rupees to the affected families, crops were washed away, cattle were washed away and hundreds of people died.

It is pertinent to note that in recent days, Gwadar faced destruction due to several hours of continuous stormy rains and the streets were filled with water. Thousands of people were homeless and many fishermen's boats were also washed away in the sea.