A comprehensive participatory recovery and rehabilitation plan should be prepared for the flood-affected people of Sindh. This was demanded in a provincial conference entitled "Issues in pro-poor recovery and rehabilitation in Sindh", held at a local hotel, here on Tuesday, jointly organised by Participatory Development Initiatives (PDI) and OXFAM (Novib).
Addressing the conference, Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh for Planning and Development, Dr Qaiser defended government's post rehabilitation flood plan in Sindh. He informed the participants that new model villages would be established in the flood-affected areas with the co-operation of Turkey, Iran, Malaysia, and USAID and other donor agencies. He claimed that Sindh is the only province, which has prepared a comprehensive five-year development programme for the affectees.
He dispelled the impression that provincial government has failed to cope with the pre and post flood situation in the province. He, in this regard, shared examples and death tolls and figures of spread of cholera, and said that none of the flood affectees died due to starvation in the post-flood situation. He also rejected the notion that flood assessment was carried out by Asian Development Bank and World Bank. Rather, the provincial government itself had carried flood assessment within its resources. However, both donor agencies monitored the process, he added.
Provincial minister for rehabilitation, Hajji Muzafar Shujrah in his remarks said that provincial government is fully committed to address the issues of flood-affected people. He said that a development plan for the affected areas has already been prepared and will be implemented soon.
PPP provincial lawmaker from Thatta, Sadiq Memon, Director Indus Resource Centre, Sadiqa Salahudian, PDI Director Sikander Brohi, Hadia Pasha, Senior Student Counsellor AKUIED, clinical psychologist, programme manager Hands, Lutuf Ali Mangrio were among the speakers of the conference. People from different flood-affected districts of Sindh also participated in the discussion.-PR