Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stressed that everyone should rise above politics in this hour of trial and extend help to the flood affectees, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The premier was talking to media on Saturday during his visit to Sajawal district, Sindh. He reviewed the rescue and relief operations in flood-hit areas of Faqirani Jat, Oplano and others and was given a detailed briefing over the situation and the relief efforts. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and the federal ministers also accompanied the prime minister.

PM Shehbaz said that the federal government would provide Rs38 billion for the flood affectees across the country and every flood affected family would receive Rs25,000 financial assistance. He said that the federal government had given Rs15 billion grant to the Sindh government. 

He said that floods and incessant monsoon rains wreaked havoc in the length and breadth of the whole country vowing to overcome the challenge with collective efforts. 

The prime minister said that he had witnessed the vast area in Sindh was inundated by flood water.

He announced on the occasion that the government would chalk out a policy in consultation with all stakeholders for the waiving of loans taken by the farmers from Agricultural Development Bank. 

He said that the heavy downpours in the season had caused human losses, damaged road and links infrastructure across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan.

In Swat and Kalam, flash floods had caused human and financial losses, swept away road infrastructure and bridges, and now headed towards Charsadda and Nowshera posing a severe threat there, he said, adding the district administrations, rescue agencies and the armed forces had been fully supporting the rescue and relief efforts and evacuating the people to safe places.

He said considerable damage was caused to the Munda dam.

The prime minister said in the flood affected areas, rescue and relief efforts were being carried out. Unfortunately, he said huge losses were witnessed across the country, but with joint and continuous efforts, they would overcome the issues posed by the natural catastrophe.

The prime minister also appreciated the efforts of the chief minister, administration and the armed forces for their rescue and relief operations in these areas.

The chief secretary, director general provincial Disaster Management Authority, deputy commissioner, officials of Pakistan Navy and other relevant authorities briefed the prime minister on the relief operations, flood situation and rehabilitation of the damaged infrastructure.

PM deplores efforts aimed at jeopardizing IMF programme 

Prime Minister Shehbaz also lamented that a certain party was doing politics and trying to throw a spanners in the IMF deal. 

“There could not be any bigger conspiracy against Pakistan than jeopardizing this deal,” he added. 

Yesterday, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail revealed in his presser that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government “attempts to jeopardise the IMF loan programme” just days ahead of the Fund’s board meeting on Monday. He said that the KP government was “playing politics” after allegedly refused to implement the terms of the IMF agreement in a letter as part of “a ploy to plunge Pakistan into a flood of economic crisis”.

In the letter, Mr Jhagra informed Mr Ismail that his KP administration might find it difficult to run a provincial surplus this year in view of flood-related damages.

Ensuring surpluses by provinces this fiscal year is a key requirement previously agreed upon to revive the IMF programme.

 

Reporter: Awais Kiyani