Govt to continue efforts till rehabilitation of all flood victims of Chitral: Muqam

CHITRAL: The Prime Minister's Focal Person for relief activities in flood-hit areas of Chitral, Engr Amir Muqam said here Friday that Federal Government was well aware of the problems of flood victims of Chitral and would continue efforts till their complete rehabilitation and resettlement.

Presiding over a high-level meeting to review the ongoing relief, rehabilitation activities besides assessing damages caused by the recent heavy torrential rains and floods in Upper Chitral here today, Engr Amir Muqam said the Government was standby with flood victims of Chitral in this hour of need and every effort would be made for their speedy and early rehabilitation.

"I came here on the directives of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif who called me from London about my personal input and supervision of relief activities in Chitral," he said.

Muqam said Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was taking keen interest in developmental of Chitral and assured that all available resources would be provided to flood victims. Muqam who is also advisor to the Prime Minister said federal government was taking practical measures for development of Chitral and would restore electricity in flood hit areas on priority basis. He said PMLN Government strongly believed in uniformed development of the country and record developmental projects have been completed irrespective of political affiliations in Chitral district.

He said people of Chitral are very close to his heart as they are peace loving, patriotic and highly educated and are playing key role in development of the country. Muqam expressed the hope that they would bear the pain of huge flood's losses with steadfastness and patience like the past.

Muqam said early completion of multi-faceted Lawari Tunnel project would change destiny of people of Chitral, adding it was a lifeline project for people of entire Malakand division that would make a very positive impact on the social economic conditions of people besides expediting pace of development in this remote northern districts of KPK.

Muqam said he would meet Prime Minister soon upon his return to the country and would appraise him about Chitral's situation in wake of recent floods.

Muqam offered special prayers (dua) for eternal peace of the departed souls of those who lost their lives during floods and early recovery of the injured.

Earlier, the deputy commissioner Chitral briefed him about the ongoing relief and rehabilitation activities besides devastation caused by the recent floods in Upper Chitral.

He said that a summary of Rs 50 million has been sent to the concerned authorities for construction of nine bridges and 22 roads while Rs10million have been released by PDMA for the flood victims.

The DC said 500 temporarily houses were immediately required for the flood victims for accommodation besides huge funds for restoration of water pipes, bridges, roads and others infrastructure.

The Deputy Commissioner lauded the efforts of Pak Army personnel besides officials of district administration, NDMA and PDMA who actively took part in the relief and rescue operations in the flood hit areas.

Later, Muqam visited flood hit Urson valley and inspected relief activities there. He directed the authorities concerned to expedite relief and rehabilitation efforts and completed restoration of civic facilities as quickly as possible.

It may be recalled that at least 29 people had lost their lives besides several others injured and scores of houses were damaged due to heavy-floods at Urson valley in Chitral occurred on June 2 last.