Syed Ali Shah:
QUETTA: Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Quddus Bizenjo on Monday said the floods and heavy rainfall caused over Rs.200 billion in financial losses in the province. “The damage is beyond our comprehension”, Mr. Bizenjo told a group of journalists at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
Floods and rains wreaked havoc in 26 out of a total of 34 districts of Balochistan, which covers half of the country in terms of area. Routine life is paralyzed in more than 80 percent of areas of the province.
In response to a question, Mr. Bizenjo admitted that still people were shelterless as the government was facing the problem with the purchase of tents. “No tents for purchase in the market currently”, he said.
Turkish and Iranian governments approached for provision of tents
The Pakistani government has also approached the Turkish and Iranian governments for the provision of tents to provide shelter to the shelterless people. “It is beyond our capacity to reach every affectee because of the scale of the disaster”, Mir Quddus Bizenjo said.
He said the government has launched massive rescue and relief operations to support the affected people in these hours of trial. CM Balochistan stated that the administration has evacuated thousands of people in collaboration with the Pakistan Army to safer places.
Naseerabad hit hard by floods
Floods have hit hard Balochistan’s Naseerabad division. Thousands of people have taken refuge on the highway linking the province with Sindh province. “There is no dry space to settle the affected people”, Mr. Bizenjo said.
Regarding the special package announced by the Prime Minister, he said the financial losses were huge and it was very less to rehabilitate the flood-affected people in the province. He said all deputy commissioners and commissioners have been directed to assess the damages and compile a comprehensive report in this regard.
No encroachments and illegal constructions
To a question about the damages in Quetta city, he said the people have constructed their homes on waterways and it was something natural that flash floods come in the same ways.
“Government would take action against the elements who allowed the illegal construction and encroachments”, he said. “We will not spare the officials issuing NOCs to the people constructing illegal houses”, Mr. Bizenjo warned.
He however reiterated that he was least bothered about the propaganda and decided to monitor the relief and rescue operation from the CM Secretariat. He spoke at length about the steps being taken by the government for the rehabilitation of the flood-affected people.
