PM Shehbaz Sharif visits flood-hit Balochistan; NDMA found nowhere

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the flood-hit areas of Balochistan and today Shahbaz Sharif had to reach Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province but the visit has been cancelled owing to bad weather.

The premier is visiting the flood-hit areas while the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is found nowhere.

The Prime Minister arrived in Jacobabad on a one-day visit to the flood-hit areas of Balochistan on Saturday, where he reviewed rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures, but he did not contact the provincial government regarding his visit.

He announced on Saturday to visit Balochistan province and the compensation for the flood victims.

Talking to reporters in Balochistan, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said, “The federal government will provide Rs500,000 to the each houseowner whose house was fully destroyed in the flood and the owners of partially destroyed houses will be given Rs200,000 or more.”

The Prime Minister said that “while giving relief money, the personnel will not discriminate regarding the construction of houses. The federal government will work with the provincial government to help the flood victims.”

Earlier, during his visit, PM Sharif conducted an aerial survey of various areas and directed immediate steps to provide relief to the victims.

He postponed his visit to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Punjab owing to bad weather.

It should be noted that recent rains and floods in all the provinces of the country and Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan regions have damaged the property of the people on a large scale while the casualties are in addition.

Earlier, the Prime Minister was briefed by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) officials, Chief Secretary Balochistan and Lieutenant General Akhtar Nawaz on the losses caused by rain and floods.

At this time, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is visiting the flood-hit areas while on the other hand, the NDMA is seen nowher.

If you go to the NDMA website, there are no details available on the floods in Punjab, Sindh province, Sindh province, Balochistan province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit -Baltistan.

Analysts say that NDMA’s performance was worst as floods have caused devastation all over Pakistan and when the prime minister is visiting the flood-hit areas and teams of rescue organisations, armed forces and local administrations were engaged in rescue and rehabilitation operations. If this is the case, then the NDMA should be closed so that the salaries that are paid to the authorities in the millions can be avoided, they added.