PM directs relief measures for rain, snowfall victims in KP

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed to take all possible measures for relief and rehabilitation of people affected by torrential rains and snowfall in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Chairing a meeting in Peshawar, he instructed the National Disaster Management Authority to take maximum steps, in collaboration with the provincial administration for rescue and rehabilitation of affected families.

The Prime Minister said that provision of compensation amount to affected people should be ensured within next five days.

He said the federal government will extend all possible assistance to the affected people in this hour of need.

He further said all institutions should jointly take part in the rescue and relief efforts for affected people.

The Prime Minister was informed about the losses and ongoing rescue and relief operation in the wake of torrential rains and snowfall in the province.

It was informed that forty people lost their lives, while sixty-two others, including twenty-seven children, injured in the recent rains and snowfall.

Besides, six hundred and thirty-five houses were damaged either fully or partially.

The meeting was briefed that two million rupees each are being provided to the family members of those, who died in the rain related incidents, while five hundred thousand rupees each are being given to the injured.

Similarly, seven hundred thousand rupees are being given to the owners of fully damaged and three hundred and fifty thousand rupees to partially affected houses.

The Prime Minister was apprised that all leading highways of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been made functional, whereas work is underway on roads affected by snowfall and landslide.

The meeting was further told that the National Disaster Management Authority, provincial and district administration are fully prepared to deal with any emergency situation that may arise due to expected snowfall in next couple of days.

Later, addressing a cheques distribution ceremony among rain affected people  of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Peshawar, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said the federal government will provide all possible assistance to them.  

He stressed preparedness to save generations to come from effects of climate change.

Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan is among seven countries badly affected by climate change.

He stressed the need for effective coordination and training of all the stakeholders to cope with natural disasters.

The Prime Minister directed the concerned authorities to conduct a survey for assessment of damages and compensate effected people within five days.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister condoled with the bereaved families who lost their dear ones in rain related incidents.