ISLAMABAD: Speaker National Assembly Dr FehmidaMirza has emphasized
the need to highlight enormous magnitude of the floods devastating 21
out of 23 districts of Sindh province.
In an interview with
Radio Pakistan in Badin, she said the floods were unprecedented in the
history of the country with Badin and Mithi badly affected. She said
monsoon rains in the province started on August 11 and so far 850 mm of
rain has been recorded in Badin and 1,000 mm in Mithi, which have
broken all past records.
She said the floods caused large-scale
destruction, but casualties were prevented because of timely rescue
operation by Pakistan Army and the civil administration. She said most
of rescue operation has been completed in Badin district, but still a
lot is needed to be done for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood
victims.
FehmidaMirza said that despite this enormous
calamity, the government on its part is trying its level best to meet
immediate needs and requirements of the flood victims. However, she
also appealed to the people and overseas Pakistanis to come forward and
extend every possible help to the flood victims.
The speaker
said that the government has launched Pakistan Cards scheme, under
which each affected family will be given Rs20,000 (twenty thousand).
These cards will also be used for subsequent compensation of
flood-affected farmers.
She said 23 mobile teams comprising
doctors and paramedical staff are visiting the relief camps and
providing necessary treatment to the affected people. However, she said
there are problems of sanitation in the relief camps due to
overcrowding and more volunteer doctors, nurses and medical students
are needed to educate and provide medical support to the victims.
FehmidaMirza
said there is also a need to find a permanent solution of the drainage
issue in Sindh province. For this purpose, she said, the government
should take on board elected representatives of the area and other
stakeholders to find a viable solution. She said this matter needs to
be resolved on priority basis as Sindh is the major contributor to the
national economy and produces sixty percent of the country’s total oil
and gas production. Online
