News
Monday, February 27, 2012
Centre yet to release flood aid: Shujra
Staff Report
KARACHI: Sindh government on Sunday complained that the federal government had still not fulfilled its promise of contributing 50 percent of expenses made on rehabilitation of people affected due to last year’s heavy rains.
“The federal government has promised to share 50 percent of expenses but it has still not fulfilled its promise”, said Provincial Minister Haji Muzaffar Hussain Shujra while speaking at a hurriedly called press conference held at the New Sindh Secretariat.
He said that the provincial government had spent over Rs 22.3 billion on relief and rehabilitation of the flood affected people. The amount includes distribution of financial aid through Watan Cards, he added.
According to him, the federal government has yet given around Rs 1.5 billion on this account.
Responding to a question, the minister said that the government had ordered inquiry into reports of embezzlements in funds spent on relief and rehabilitation. Anybody if found involved in misappropriation will be taken to task, he added.
Sharing figures of damages occurred during last year’s torrential rains, the minister said that total 89, 20,631 people were affected in the floods. Besides, he added, some 497 persons were died.Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk