The remaining last 99,000 people affected by the heavy floods of last year would get first instalment of their watan cards amounting Rs 20,000 within the next few days as Federal and Sindh Governments have released Rs 1,988 million to the affiliated banks for the distribution purpose.
Last year's heavy floods had badly affected many districts of province including Kashmore-Kandhkot, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Kambar-Shahdadkot, Larkana, Dadu, Thatta, Jamshoro, Khairpur Mir's, Benazir Bhutto Abad (Nawabshah), Naushehroferoze, Hyderabad, Ghotki and Sukkur. After the survey of losses, Sindh government had announced that about one million flood-affected family heads would be given watan cards.
Sources inside provincial Finance department unveiled this to Business Recorder on Thursday that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has approved the summary of Rs 994million in order to distribute among the flood- affected people living in various districts through their watan cards.
The concerned institutes have completed the process of issuance of remaining 99,000 watan cards and now the holders of said cards would get the amount of first instalment, sources said. A large number of watan card holders out of 99,000 are belonging to Dadu and Thatta districts, sources added.
In this connection, Sindh Finance Department had also co-ordinated with Federal Government through Cabinet division for issuance of same amount to affiliated banks as all watan card holders could get their first instalment of Rs 20,000 very soon, sources said. Sources confirmed that Federal Government has also released an amount of Rs 994million to affiliated banks in this regard.
Sources informed that 721,000 watan cards worth Rs 13.74 billion are being distributed among flood survivors in the first phase. The money has been equally contributed by the Federal and Sindh Governments. The distribution of watan cards was materialised through National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Sindh Revenue Department and the authorities of district governments, sources said.
Sources claimed that this was last instalment, after this, Sindh Government would close the process of making of watan cards in the province. On the other hand, Federal and Sindh Governments are also seriously working on the issuance of second instalment of watan cards which would be Rs 40,000, sources added. It is pertinent to mention here that soon after the floods of last year, Federal Government and provincial governments had announced that every watan card holder would get Rs 0.1million in order to meet their financial needs.