The General Council of Kisan Board Pakistan (KBP) Punjab on Monday reiterated demand of setting up an 'independent commission' under the supervision of judiciary and representation of registered farmers' organisation to ensure fair and transparent assistance to the flood affectees.
The council also constituted a committee of its leaders to monitor distribution of support and relief goods to the affectees. The demand was made at a meeting of KBP Punjab General Council, which met with its Provincial Chief Khurshid Ahmad Kanjo in the chair.
The agenda of the meeting was 'recent floods and our responsibilities.' KBP Central General Secretary Malik Muhammad Ramzan Rohari was the chief guest while presidents and secretaries of all the district organisations attended the meeting.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, KBP General Secretary Ramzan Rohari and Punjab Chief Khurshid Ahmad Kanjo said floods damaged crops standing over hundred of thousands of acres in 12 districts of the province. It also devastated houses, irrigation infrastructure, livestock and property.
They said provincial and federal governments have failed to distribute relief goods in a fair and transparent manner. They alleged that fake lists are being prepared to benefit the near and dear ones of some of the ruling party members. They observed that some NGOs supported the flood affectees to some extent, while the government is still unable to devise a mechanism to support the affectees or issuing support cards for them.
KBP leaders warned that the country might face famine-like situation if the affected growers were not provided free of cost fertilisers, seeds, free electricity supply or if their agricultural loans were not written off. They called on the government to immediately establish an independent commission with the representation of registered farmers' organisation under the supervision of judiciary to ensure transparent distribution of support to the affectees. Ramzan Rohari and Khurshid Kanjo also urged that construction of different dams including Kalabagh Dam should immediately be started in the country.