MONDAY SEPTEMBER 19: Affected growers to get relief: Gilani

UMERKOT: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday terming loss of crops in Sindh by the heavy rain as a big tragedy announced that the government will give relief to the affected growers in pesticides and fertilisers for 'Rabi' (summer) crop.
The Prime Minister was talking to media at Nabi Sir Thar, a peripheral area of Kunri, district Umerkot. Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said the Federal and Provincial governments are making all out efforts to provide every possible help to flood- and rain-affected people in Sindh. He called upon the non-governmental organisations (NGOs), donors and international community to help the flood victims.
The Prime Minister directed Sindh Government to remove encroachments from the river bed. He also called upon the authorities concerned to find solution of Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD). Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said a strategy is also being devised to cope with the malaria and dengue viruses.
He said the government would also extend all possible co-operation for restoration of infrastructure in rain-affected areas. He said the minorities were equal citizens of the country and they would have support and cooperation of the government like rest of the flood victims. The Prime Minister said the government would convene a health conference to discuss ways and means to prevent outbreak of diseases in the rain- and flood-affected areas.
"The conference will work for adopting a strategy to efface malaria and other diseases from these areas," he said He said that the process of rehabilitation of the affected people would begin after the end of the monsoon season. "The concerned MNAs and MPAs will announce grants for the most affected areas," he added.
Earlier, MNA Nawab Yousuf Talpur briefed the Prime Minister about damages caused by the heavy rain and flood in district Umerkot. He also apprised Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani of the problems being faced by the people in district Umerkot. Prime Minister Gilani also distributed ration among the flood-hit people.
Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Federal Ministers, Raja Pervez Ashraf and Syed Naveed Qamar, Members of National Assembly (MNAs) Nawab Yousuf Talpur and Faqeer Jadim Mangrio, Sindh Minister, Syed Ali Mardan Shah, Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs) Nawab Taimur Talpur and Ali Murad Rajar and other notables were also present there.