PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif here on Wednesday distributed a huge financial compensation package among the victims of recent torrential rains and floods in Khyber Pakthunkhwa.
On behalf of the federal government, he distributed a check of Rs two million among the heirs of each deceased and Rs. 500,000 among each injured due to the recent torrential rains and floods in various districts of the province, including the merged tribal districts.
The Prime Minister presented the compensation checks during a function held here at the Governor House. This was Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s first visit to Khyber Pakthunkhwa after assuming office as Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Among others Governor Khyber Pakthunkhwa, Haji Ghulam Ali, Members National Assembly, Khwaja Muhammad Asif, Engr Amir Muqam, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Murtaza Javed Abbasi, Attaullah Tarar, PML-N Leader Ishaq Dar, Former Governor KP, Jgra Iqbal, Zafar At this Senators, Members of Provincial Assemblies, Chairman NDMA Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik IGP KP Akhtar Hayat Gandapur and relatives of rain victims were present on the occasion.
A total of 40 people including 27 children died and 62 were injured during the recent torrential rains and floods in Khyber Pakthukhwa.
The Prime Minister ordered the concerned authorities and relevant departments to complete the estimates of all destroyed and partially damaged houses within five days and to complete the process of payment of compensation payments by
March 11th.
He directed the NDMA and other concerned departments to utilize the helicopter facility to transport officials to ensure that estimates of all destroyed and partially damaged houses in remote districts of Khyber Pakthunkhwa are quickly compiled so that the compensation package process can be completed within the said period. .
The Prime Minister said a delay in this regard would be unacceptable and officials who failed to achieve their targets would be held accountable.
Shehbaz Sharif announced that Rs 700,000 will be provided for the repair of each destroyed house and Rs 300,000 for each partially damaged house.
Financial compensation was not an alternative to human life, but a manifestation of economic relief to their families so that they could live with dignity in society, he added.
He said that the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) also laid great emphasis on observing patience in a difficult situation.
The prime minister said he also visited the rain-hit areas of Balochistan and expressed solidarity with the families of the victims.
He said that KP is the most rain and flood affected province in terms of human lives reported last month, followed by Balochistan and Azad Kashmir and the federal government will use all necessary resources to help the families of the victims in this difficult hour.
The Prime Minister highly appreciated the performance of NDMA, PDMA, Police and District Administrations of KP in the relief and rescue efforts during the recent torrential rains and assured that the Federal Government Organizations including NDMA will provide all possible help and support to the affected people in KP till complete rehabilitation.
Shehbaz Sharif said that he came here to express his solidarity and condolences to the victims of Khyber Pakthunkhwa rains and to provide them all possible help and support.
He said that Pakistan was among the seven countries at risk of climate change and the devastating floods of 2022 were a clear testimony of this.
The Prime Minister said that the time has come to create an inclusive strategy to combat climate change, otherwise the coming generation will not forgive us.
He said that there should be a complete structural mechanism with NDMA and PDMA of all provinces for quick humanitarian assistance to the people in case of natural calamities like floods in 2022 and in this regard he stressed the need for effective coordination between PDMA and NDMA of all provinces.
The Prime Minister said that packages worth billions of rupees were distributed among the flood victims in 2022, besides personally supervising the relief and rescue operations in all provinces including Sindh, Balcohistan, Punjab and Khyber Pakthunkhwa during this period.
Shehbaz Sharif also lovingly met the rain affected people and children and inquired about their problems.
The Prime Minister and others also offered Fateha for the departed souls of the victims and special prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Even earlier, upon his arrival, the Prime Minister was received by KP Governor Haji Ghulam Ali. Later, the Governor called on the Prime Minister and exchanged views on the overall situation, including economic matters. APP
