The United Nations has launched a $365 million appeal under Rapid Response Plan for early recovery of 2011 flood victims in the country, pointing out that the government could not alone cope with the devastating situation. According to the UN humanitarian co-ordinator in Pakistan, $265.5 million will immediately be required for the recovery of flood victims to deal with a very serious situation.
Indeed, this is the right step on the part of the world body for the plight of the flood-affected people is too profound to be ignored. I call upon the government - federal and provincial - to draw a few lessons from last year's devastating floods that in fact have caused more losses. The government, however, has been found to be responsible for dereliction of duty on many a count. For example, an amount of Rs 5 billion for the relief and rehabilitation of flood victims remained unutilised.
I call upon the NGOs, philanthropists and others to play their role in relief efforts for the government alone - as pointed out by the UN - cannot cope with the situation. Moreover, I request all the political and religious parties and groups to make their contributions towards this cause.