President General Pervez Musharraf on Friday vowed to rebuild the flood and cyclone-affected areas of Balochistan and Sindh, saying the reconstruction would be ensured better than before by utilising all government resources.
He was addressing the gathering at Kech Stadium, Turbat after he flew in here this afternoon to review the relief and rehabilitation efforts in the rain-affected areas.
President Musharraf said damage assessment of the affected property would also be carried out immediately and the people will be paid to rebuild their property. Musharraf speaking at Kech Stadium, where a relief camp has been set up, announced Rs 15,000 as immediate compensation to each family affected by the cyclone and flood.
He said those displaced due to lake construction along Mirani Dam had already been compensated. However, after increasing the lake's capacity from 257 to 264 feet, the recently displaced families would also be compensated. He said in command area of Mirani Dam, a network of canals would be spread covering 33,000 acres barren land.
He said it would not only irrigate the fields but also provide locals an opportunity for business of fisheries. President Musharraf said he was extremely saddened by the devastation in Balochistan and vowed that the government would help the people build homes better than they earlier had.
"I am with you and assure that we will continue to strive for your betterment and improvement in life," the President told the flood-affected locals. He also visited Tunzak village. He gave Rs 2,000 to each person in Tunzak and Rs 5,000 to each family in Kech from his own pocket.
He assured the people of swift action for their rehabilitation by the government authorities and said a team of doctors from Punjab was in the affected areas to provide medical aid to the people. The President lauded armed forces for the relief operation they carried out on time.
He regretted that damaged roads caused some hindrance in relief activities, however added that efforts continued for providing people relief material by alternate means particularly air-dropping. He told the locals that he would be soon visiting the area again to review the relief operation.
Governor Balochistan Awais Ghani, Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousaf, Minister for Social Welfare Zobaida Jalal and Chairman National Disaster Management Authority Lieutenant General Farooq Ahmad were also present.
According to NDMA survey, the affected population in Balochistan has been estimated 1.1 million, while over 100,000 people have been rendered homeless. The government has already sent about 960 tons of relief goods so far to the rain-hit areas, while 111 tons of relief goods were shipped via sea to Balochistan.
The federal government has sent 73 truckloads of relief items besides providing 17,500 tents, 32,000 blankets and 4000 mattresses to people in the affected areas in Balochistan and NWFP. About 200 million rupees have been given to Balochistan for the relief activities.