Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani pledged that every person whose houses were demolished in floods will get Rs 100,000 assistance without any discrimination, whether he had brick or mud house, hut or a one or two room house. The PM said that the federal government departments were doing a good job in providing relief to the affectees and in restoring infrastructure.
Talking to newsmen at Multan and addressing the public meeting in Jampur Prime minister ruled out the possibility of mid-term election and said "we would complete our constitutional tenure with the masses. Prime Minister said that institutions part of the federal government were determined to rehabilitate flood hit people with the help of international community. While addressing affected people at a relief camp at model high school Jampur, he said that some elements were trying to create perception that government, armed forces, and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) were separate.
"We are all one," the Prime Minister said adding that all the four Chief Ministers had attended the meeting of Council of Common Interests (CCI) that had decided to pay Rs 20,000 to each flood hit family. Gilani said Army, Navy and Air Force were part of the federal government and were helping the flood hit people on the government's instructions. He said he has asked Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to look into providing waiver to flood hit consumers on electricity bills. The farmers would also get some form of relief in agriculture loans of banks, he added.
He announced that growers having landholding below 25 acres would get seeds and fertilisers at free of cost. The Prime Minister said that elements engaged in creating misconceptions do not let any opportunity pass to criticise the government. They had said that government had announced to provide Rs 20,000 assistance to each affected family before Eid.
However, PM explained, actually government had promised to start the process of distribution of financial assistance before Eid and the provinces had begun paying the affectees. They restored electricity and gas supply, opened roads and rail tracks in addition to providing food and other facilities to the affectees, he added.
Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister for Population Welfare Firdous Ashiq Awan and Senators, MNAs and MPAs were also present at the movement. Gilani said he got a detailed briefing in Multan Corps Headquarters on Sunday along with Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on relief and rescue operation.
Representatives of the people belonging to all parties including PPP, PML-Q and PML-N were present at the briefing where they were consulted on the future strategy. The purpose of the exercise is to improve co-ordination and serve the people, the Prime Minister added.
He said that the government is utilising all resources for the rehabilitation of flood affected people. He inquired about the well being of the affected people and distributed sweets among them. Gilani said provinces should inform him about the victims' needs including food, drinking water, medicines, doctors and mobile hospitals. All requests for assistance should be routed through NDMA and PDMA and public representatives should be involved, he added.
He appreciated efforts of the international community and Pakistani people to help out victims of the natural calamity. PM said the government is in the process of assessing damages in all areas including badly affected areas for rehabilitation of people. He said he would give one time permission to the public representatives to send their funds for relief of affected communities. These funds would be used for the reconstruction of houses.