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Nawaz invites marchers to join flood relief and rescue
* PM says journey towards progress and development will continue despite impediments being created by sit-ins * Govt will reconstruct destroyed housesJALALPUR BHATTIAN: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday asked the participants of the sit-ins in the federal capital to step forward and help the people affected by the floods.
Nawaz vowed to continue the journey towards economic progress and development despite what he said were impediments created by dharnas (sit-ins) in the federal capital. “The sit-ins are disrupting business activities in Pakistan. It is an attempt to impede the course of development, but we will Insha Allah continue the journey of development and serve the people,” the prime minister said while addressing the flood-affected people in Jalalpur Bhattian area of Hafizabad District.
“Let them continue with the sit-ins and we will continue to serve the masses,” he remarked. Nawaz said that the sit-ins were no service to the masses and invited the protesters to help the flood victims. He assured the flood-affected people that the government would utilise all available resources for their rehabilitation. “The government will compensate you for your losses and help reconstruct your houses,” he announced, adding that once the floodwater receded in the area, the government would conduct a survey to compensate the losses.
“The public money belongs to the masses and the government will leave no stone unturned to help the flood-affected people,” he said. The government and the whole nation stood with the flood-affected people in this difficult hour, Nawaz said. He lauded the armed forces for their relief and rescue work in the flood-affected areas. “Rescue 1122 also did a good a job,” he said.
Nawaz Sharif assured the flood affected people that the government was fully determined to rehabilitate them and would not leave them alone in this hour of trial. The prime minister said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was personally supervising the rescue and relief activities in all the flood-hit areas. Shahbaz is working day and night and shuffling between the areas daily, he added. The prime minister said to cope with such a catastrophic situation there should be ample availability of resources.
There should be availability of resources; there should be progress, besides a boost in the agriculture and industrial activities so that people could reap financial benefits, he said, adding that such economic uplift and availability of resources would make their homes and dykes more secure. There should be progress in the country so that people get jobs; Pakistan should increase its export, he opined. He assured the people that the government would spend maximum on the rehabilitation and relief efforts.
He also thanked Minister of State for Health Saira Tarar Afzal, provincial and district administration, rescue, relief teams and workers for alleviating the sufferings of the flood-affected people. He said such a situation grieved him greatly and for showing solidarity with the affected people in this hour of trial, he himself had arrived there. The prime minister said that nobody was expecting such high flood, still the local administration was endeavouring to overcome the challenge.
He said that a survey was being conducted to evaluate the property damages and loss to livestock and crops. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid and DCO Hafizabad also accompanied the prime minister. On the occasion, Nawaz was briefed about the relief and rescue operations. He was apprised by the officials that so far 11,000 stranded people had been evacuated from the flood hit areas of Hafizabad. A total of 10 medical centres were set up, besides distribution of food items and water was also made.
The prime minister directed the officials concerned to speed up their relief and rescue activities with all the available resources. He also directed evacuation of livestock to safer places. The prime minister directed provision of boats to the affected people. He also gave directions to make appropriate arrangements for shifting of livestock to safer places. Nawaz assured the affected people that he would visit them again once the water recedes.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk