Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan has said that the government is determined to surmount the crisis brought about by the unprecedented floods and the assistance provided by the international community will be used in transparent and honest manner.
Speaking at the Pakistan flood fund raising charity dinner hosted by the Redbridge Borough Friday night, which raised estimated 30,000 pounds, he was confident that with the continued support of the international community all those uprooted by the calamity would be re-settled as early as possible.
He cited the example of Swat where soon after the military operations were over, some 2.5 million people who were forced to leave their homes were able to return and resume their normal lives. Hasan said rebuilding and reconstruction remains the main challenge facing the country but he was convinced that given the resilience of the people this would be prevailed over.
The High Commissioner praised generosity of the British public, its government and of the Diaspora in raising funds for the flood victims and said the UK has always responded in a positive manner to natural disasters hitting Pakistan. He dispelled all notions of any impending political crisis in Pakistan and criticised certain sections of the media and political analysts of painting a gloomy picture, which he added was in no way helping in the post-floods recovery. Hasan said democracy has returned to Pakistan after years of struggle and sacrifices in which late Benazir Bhutto gave her life and it was the duty of the people of Pakistan and all the saner elements to strengthen it.