PM seeks world support for flood victims' rehab
ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Government will engage international institutions to make damage assessment in wake of recent devastating floods so as to make it more accurate and transparent.
He added that it would greatly help the Government to cope with the challenges of reconstruction and rehabilitation in the affected areas.
The Prime Minister was talking to a delegation of Poongsan Cooperation, South Korea, which headed by Jin Roy Ryu called on him at his Parliament House Chamber and presented a cheque of US $150,000 for the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.
The Prime Minister urged upon the international community and institutions to come forward and generously assist Pakistan in its efforts of rehabilitation of the flood affectees. He informed the delegation that the floods affected areas were the food basket of Pakistan, so its economic repercussions would be felt for a long time throughout the country. He said that the Government was determined to convert the catastrophe into an opportunity by focusing its energies to develop the affected areas and create opportunities for the people.
The delegation informed the Prime Minister that more assistance would be provided once the damage need assessment was completed.
The Prime Minister thanked the delegation for their gesture of good will and support for the flood victims.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the human catastrophe caused by devastating floods requires generous contributions to help mitigate the sufferings of millions of people. The forthcoming phase of rehabilitation and reconstruction, he added needs substantial resources to bring normalcy in the flood-affected areas.
The Prime Minister was talking to ministers, various delegations and philanthropists who called on him to present cheques for Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.
Lauding the spirit and sense of devotion displayed by different segments of society, the Prime Minister said that the response was encouraging and it would help restore the confidence of the flood affected people, during the forthcoming phases of rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Those who presented cheques included Minister for Industries Mir Hazar Khan Bijrani Rs 10 million, Minister for Labour and Manpower Syed Khursheed Shah on behalf of Shadani Darbar Mirpur Mathan, Advisor to PM on political Affairs, Nawabzada Ghazanfar Gul Rs one lakh, Abdul Malik on behalf of Pakistan Computer Association 10,000 British Pounds and Eng Hasnain Ahmed, Pakistan Engineering Council Rs. 10 million.
