Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, while expressing gratitude to US government for its support in the face of severe floods, urged more logistical succor to ensure swift rehabilitation of the flood affected in all parts of the country. During a meeting with US ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson, who called on him at Governor's House here Friday.
He apprised the US ambassador of the severity of the situation in the aftermath of the unprecedented floods, which have almost crippled the economy. US Consul General in Lahore Carmela Conroy accompanied the US ambassador during the meeting. Briefing the US diplomat about the flood devastation, Punjab Governor spoke about the loss of infrastructure on a large scale, which has made the relief work more arduous. He referred to the huge losses incurred by Wapda and the efforts by authorities to ensure the fast restoration of the supplies to the consumers adding huge sums of money would be required to restore the loss of infrastructure.
Taseer also presented an assessment report of the losses incurred during the inclement floods to the US ambassador to Pakistan. He said the deluge in these areas has destroyed the schools, colleges and hospitals, and international support was badly needed to overcome this unprecedented crisis in the history of the country. He also underlined the need for more paramedical staff, medicine and food in the affected areas in order to check spread of epidemic, adding more tents and commodities of daily use are urgently required for the calamity-hit people.
He urged the international community and donor agencies to make Multan hub of their relief activities as the divisional headquarter would provide all easy access to the flood-ravaged areas in Punjab. Earlier, Secretary Wapda Imtiaz Ahmad, MD Pepco Tahir Basharat Cheema, MD Utility Stores Muhammad Arif Khan, Chief Executive Lesco Saleem Akhtar called on Punjab Governor Salman Taseer and briefed him about the relief efforts by their respective departments for rehabilitation of flood affectees. The officials highlighted need for co-ordination among various departments to speed up relief efforts in the flood-ravaged areas.