News
Friday, September 03, 2010
Pakistan ‘literally in hot waters’: PM
* Gilani says country passing through one of the most critical times in history
* National economy, infrastructure irreparably damaged
* Turkish first lady vows to resettle 10,000 flood victims
* More assistance from Turkey on the way
By Tahir Niaz
NOWSHERA: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday said that Pakistan is literally in troubled waters as the floods have made an irreparable dent on the national economy and infrastructure.
“Pakistan is passing through a critical phase... we are literally in troubled waters. No country alone can tackle this kind of disaster,” said Gilani during his visit to the Pir Sabik flood victims’ camp set up by the Turkish Red Crescent Society (TRCS) in Nowshera. Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti and Economic Affairs Minister Hina Rabbani Khar accompanied the prime minister and First Lady Fauzia Gilani.
Gilani said that the unprecedented floods had broken the back of agriculture and livestock sector while damage to the infrastructure was yet to be assessed. He said that every eighth citizen of the country had been affected by the floods. He called upon the international community to come up with more financial assistance to meet the challenge.
Gilani said the floods had belittled the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan’s northern areas in damage and displacement of people. He thanked the Turkish government for what he called its unprecedented assistance in present and past natural calamities.
Expressing concern over the flood devastation, Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan said her country stood with Pakistan in this hour of distress and would continue helping its Pakistani brethrens. “We are as close as fingers in one hand,” she said while referring to the relationship between the people of the two countries. “Your pain is our pain, we are here to heal your wounds,” she added. She assured the flood victims that Turkey would help resettle 10,000 of them. “More aid from Turkey is on the way to Pakistan,” she added, adding, the Turkish government had set up two field hospitals while another would be established in Nowshera soon. Emine said Turkey would provide pre-fabricated housing units in large numbers and would send 40 containers of relief goods, clothing and food.
The Turkish first lady also visited the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Disaster Management and Logistic Centre in the federal capital on Thursday. PRCS Chairwoman Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar and other official welcomed the visiting dignitary. Emine took a tour of the centre that had been built with the support of the TRCS and said that cooperation between the two organisations would be strengthened. Senator Bakhtiar thanked the Turkish first lady for her visit.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk