
HYDERABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has called for a more coordinated role on the part of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) as far as flood in Sindh is concerned adding that he had deputed some federal ministers to look into it.
He said that he would meet chief ministers of Balochistan and Sindh to resolve controversy in the wake of diversion of floodwater to Balochistan from upper Sindh.
“Their [NDMA] role should be more coordinated”, he told Dawn on tarmac at Hyderabad Airport Wednesday evening as he boarded Pakistan Air Force plane for Islamabad. He was accompanied by Speaker National Assembly Dr. Fahmida Mirza, Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira.
Prime Minister arrived here in the afternoon to take an aerial view of affected areas. He visited Kotri Barrage and was briefed about its regulation and water flows up and downstream Kotri.
He met survivors from upper Sindh and Latifabad taluka in two relief camps, set up by district administration in Wahdat colony and Kohsar.
“I have deputed federal ministers to ensure a coordinated role of NDMA”, he said when he was told that NDMA seemed to have played no role in flood devastations in Sindh despite huge human displacement.
To another question about controversy between Sindh and Balochistan over diversion of floodwater to latter causing inundation of Dera Allahyar, Jaffarabad, Naseerabad and Rohjan Jamali, he said that it would be resolved.
When asked if he was going to take any initiative in this regard, he replied that “I will meet two chief ministers in this regard to resolve it”. He expressed his satisfaction over world community’s response to havoc caused by floods in Sindh. “I am fully satisfied with it [the response], he said.
Earlier, he told journalists that he had come here to personally meet people and parliamentarians before devising a strategy.
“Whatever losses I have seen are beyond my imagination”, he remarked. He said that 17 districts have been declared calamity-hit in Sindh. He said that he realised that people are migrating but government is also taking initiatives in this regard as people are facing difficult time.
The premier said that the government would try to count those who are still sitting on embankments and shift them to relief camps. He said that federal government was aware of their miseries and would not leave them in the lurch.
“I promise that we will not leave you alone”, he said. Mr Gilani said that survey of losses was being conducted adding that losses of cattle head, houses and crops were also being evaluated. “Government will provide money for building homes”, he said.
He urged party cadres to visit each place and taluka to help people in distress. He said that he had spoken to President Asif Ali Zardari also. “We are calling meeting of our party’s CEC to devise strategy”, he said.
The prime minister said that world community was helping Pakistan more than his expectations. About Tori bund breach inquiry, he said that breaches had taken place in canals in the country and it is upto provincial government to get an inquiry done.
He said that people have the spirit and nobody could defeat them. He said that world community was with flood survivors. “With this spirit we will emerge successful”, he said.
He said government was committed to rehabilitation of flood affected people despite the fact that there is shortage of food, medicines, tents and other commodities.
He said that government had decided to provide a grant of Rs20,000 to each flood affected family immediately before assessment of losses if finally done.
Federal Trade Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim met the premier when he landed at airport but sought permission to reach Matiari for flood monitoring.
Federal minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Syed Naveed Qamar, Sindh Home Minister Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza, MQM’s Sindh Minister for Rural Development Zubair Ahmed, Sindh Fisheries Minister Zahid Bhurgari, Sindh Minister for Special Education Syed Ali Nawaz Shah Rizvi, MNAs, MPAs and PPP leaders were present on the occasion.