Editorial:
Almost a year on, thousands of flood affected people are yet to be rehabilitated in various flood-hit districts of Balochistan. In scorching heat, the flood affectees in Balochistan’s Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, Sohbat Pur, Lasbela and other districts continue to suffer.
Flood affectees appeals for rehabilitation and relief almost fell on deaf ears in the province and center. It was very shocking for every sane person that the federal government has not paid a single penny out of a total amount of Rs.10 billions announced by the prime minister Shehbaz Sharif for flood affectees of Balochistan.
Islamabad yet to pay a single penny out of Rs.10 billions announced by Prime Minister
Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Quddus Bizenjo lodged a protest before the federal government regarding the financial crisis of Balochistan and demanded the payment of funds announced by the premier on August 28 last year in Jaffarabad district for flood affectees.
The current year’s monsoon season is about to start and neither the provincial nor the federal governments have taken any effective steps for the rehabilitation of the flood affectees of the last year.
All abandoned flood affectees of Balochistan
Government departments in general and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in particular have almost abandoned the flood affected areas. The Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have almost left the areas affected by floods.
If the federal government has not paid any penny for the rehabilitation of the flood affectees, this is painful. This is also a bitter reality that the provincial government has also not taken effective steps to support the affectees in this hour of trial.
Collapsed bridges after devastating floods are yet to be reconstructed in Quetta. What to speak about rest of Balochistan, which covers half of the country in terms of area. \
It is both the responsibility of the provincial and federal governments to take effective steps to rehabilitate the flood affectees before it is already late.
