Federal Govt to release funds: Sindh Govt

KARACHI: Sindh Government will make a formal request to the federal government for the release of funds, promised for the relief and rehabilitation of flood victims on priority basis to ensure uninterrupted supplies and payments to the affected people.

This decision was taken at a meeting of PM's committee constituted to assist provincial government in the relief and rehabilitation work.

Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who presided over the meeting at CM House here on Friday night, said that the Prime Minister had made the announcement to pay Rs 20,000 to every affected family and this money is needed now.

The Convener Arif Ahmed Khan while briefing the meeting said that two major issues were facing the committee, one of them is how to drain out rain water stagnant in marooned areas.

The second issue is how to save affected people from the attack of mosquitoes, being breeded due to stagnant water, he added.

Arif said that provincial health department has imported insecticides from France and India and 500 spray machines will be required to conduct spray in all rain affected areas.

He said that 8 million people have been affected and NDMA has distributed 2 million family packs of ration among affected and 310,000 shelters.

He pointed out that clusters of United Nations and NGOs have also started relief work in all affected areas.

The meeting was informed that about 4.5 million animals have been moved to safer areas in desert. Livestock department has chalked out feeding plan for next 15 days, requiring Rs 600 million.

The meeting noted that people urgently need mosquito nets in Sanghar, Mirpurkhas and Badin.

The meeting was told that 70,000 mosquito nets and 20,000 water purifiers have been ordered.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011