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Institutions part of federal govt single minded in helping flood affectees: Gilani
JAMPUR, Sep 12 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said on Sunday that institutions part of the federal government were determined to rehabilitate flood hit people with the help of international community. While addressing affected people at a relief camp at model high school Jampur, he said that some elements were trying to create perception that government, armed forces, and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) were separate.“We are all one,” the Prime Minister said adding that all the four Chief Ministers had attended the meeting of Council of Common Interests (CCI) that had decided to pay Rs 20,000 to each flood hit family.
Gilani said Army, Navy and Air Force were part of the federal government and were helping the flood hit people on the government’s instructions.
He said he has asked Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to look into providing waiver to flood hit consumers on electricity bills.
The farmers would also get some form of relief in agriculture loans of banks, he added.
He announced that growers having landholding below 25 acres would get seeds and fertilizers free of cost.
The Prime Minister said that elements engaged in creating misconceptions do not let any opportunity pass to criticise the government.
They had said that government had announced to provide Rs 20,000 assistance to each affected family before Eid. However, PM explained, actually government had promised to start the process of distribution of financial assistance before Eid and the provinces had begun paying the affectees.
The Prime Minister pledged that every person whose houses were demolished in floods will get Rs 100,000 assistance without any discrimination, whether he had brick or mud house, hut or a one or two room house.
The Premier said the federal government departments were doing a good job in providing relief to the affectees and in restoring infrastructure.
They restored electricity and gas supply, opened roads and rail tracks in addition to providing food and other facilities to the affectees, he added.
Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister for Population Welfare Firdous Ashiq Awan and Senators, MNAs and MPAs attended the event.
Gilani said he got a detailed briefing in Multan Corps Headquarters on Sunday along with Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on relief and rescue operation.
Representatives of the people belonging to all parties including PPP, PML-Q and PML-N were present at the briefing where they were consulted on the future strategy.
The purpose of the exercise is to improve coordination and serve the people, the Prime Minister added.
The Prime Minister ruled out the possibility of mid term elections.
Elections were still far away and those who wish to test their popularity can do so in bye elections. “I had already stated it earlier and am saying it now that those who are in a hurry for election should wait,” PM Gilani said.
The Prime Minister said, “We have not come here to play politics or for election campaign.” We are here to serve only the flood hit people.”
Pakistan People’s Party had not come to power through back door, referendum or through Musharraf, Gilani said adding that “we have been elected by the people.”
He said, “People will elect us again for the next term if we continued to pursue our manifesto and fulfilled our promises. This is the democratic way.”
He said philosophy of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was that the people were the fountain of power. He said that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto sacrificed her life for the rights of the people.
He said the PPP-led government restored the constitution of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, approved NFC award with consensus, gave autonomy to provinces and rights to Gilgit-Baltistan.
The Prime Minister recalled that he had ordered the judges’ release soon after taking over and later restored them to their offices. He said that PPP-led government would fulfill all the promises made with the people.
The Premier said that flood hit people should not consider themselves alone in difficult times.
The federal government, provincial governments, civil society, philanthropists and international community were working together to support flood victims, he added.
He said the PPP government would continue to pursue the policy of reconciliation envisioned by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and take along all stakeholders in society.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan was not seeking economic assistance from international community by using floods as a pretext, but getting help to compensate for the devastating impact of the natural disaster.
He appealed to the international community including United Nations, Organization of Islamic Conference and European Union to help Pakistan in these difficult times.
The floods were a large scale tragedy and assistance from international community can help meet the challenges, he added.
He said that Pakistan faced the history’s worst floods at a time when it was fighting the war against terrorism as a frontline state to keep peace in the world.
“This is war for peace and development of the world and Pakistan was determined to confront terrorism,” Gilani added.
The Premier said that Jampur was like his home as he possessed land there.
“I had visited other flood hit areas of Pakistan first to celebrate Eid with the affected persons and then came to the home,” the Prime Minister said adding, “It would have been selfish had he visited his home first and rest of the areas later.”
He said he has instructed health department to post more doctors in Rajanpur area to prevent any chance of outbreak of epidemics.
He said that Saudi Arabia is going to establish a 200 bed field hospital in Rajanpur.
He said he has asked UNESCO to establish camp schools in areas where floods caused destruction.
He assured that every penny donated for affected people would be used with transparency.
He also announced Rs 10 million each for Jampur Press Club and Rajanpur Press Club.
The Eid Mela at the relief camp was organized by National Trust for Population Welfare (NATPOW) in collaboration with Youth Front Pakistan, Saya Foundation and Tipu Foundation.
Minister for Defence Production Sardar Abdul Qayyum Jatoi, MNA Jamshed Dasti, MNA Sardar Jafar Leghari, MPA Syed Ahmad Mujtaba Gilani, PM’s media coordinator Khwaja Rizwan Alam and PM’s advisors Sardar Latif Khan Khosa and Sharif Amir Koreja were also present.
Courtesy www.app.com.pk