KACHHI: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said during the current situation which arose after the monsoon rains and floods, the entire nation was working in unison and inspiration to overcome the problems which was very important.
Expressing his view after getting a briefing from the relevant authorities over the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts of road, rail and bridges infrastructure in the area, the prime minister said that it was a matter of satisfaction that all the people had been involved to overcome the enormous issues after the natural calamity hit the country.
Appreciating the efforts of the district administration authorities and others, the prime minister said their commitment and devotion had been a source of inspiration for the general public.
He said that he saluted all those who had been involved in the relief and rehabilitation efforts. The chief minister and the chief secretary had been coordinating and working with all the relevant authorities, he added.
It was your commitment to the nation, he said, adding that their efforts would serve as a beacon of light for the people. It was the teamwork that could yield results in trying times, he opined.
The prime minister announced Rs5 million relief grant for the labourers who were working there in the difficult situation and another amount of Rs1 million for the staff that was working for the restoration of gas pipelines. A committee would be set up to dispense the amount on merit.
The prime minister said the floods had caused large-scale damages across the country, affecting all the provinces. About 1300 lives were lost, livestock swept away, while the economic and infrastructure damages were enormous.
In this district, the prime minister said, recent floods had swept away BibiNanibridge, disrupting traffic from Quetta to Sukkur and leaving about 6000 people stranded on both ends.
He appreciated the NHA, law enforcement jawans and other authorities who restored the damaged bridge within 8 hours, adding that they did a great national service.
The prime minister said that when a catastrophe hit, the whole nation stood up and march in unison by working hard to overcome the challenges. The prime minister announced Rs3 million for those labourers working on the restoration of Bibi Nani bridge.
National Highway Authority Chairman Khurram Agha also briefed the prime minister about the restoration of BibiNanibridge. About 106 kms road around BibiNani and Pinjar Bridges were largely affected.
The chief minister thanked the prime minister for his visits and continuous support to the flood-affected areas of the province. He said the FC personnel had played a major role in the restoration of connectivity bridge.
He also announced Rs2 million for the labourers and workers.
Meanwhile, under directives of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, rehabilitation work on a number of flood-damaged highways, roads and links roads had been completed whereas on the remaining sections, the restoration work was continuing on an emergency basis.
Minister for Communication and Chairman National Highway Authority (NHA) are ensuring the early restoration of the damaged road infrastructure in different parts of the country.
The prime minister is personally supervising the roads rehabilitation work and receiving updated reports on daily basis, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
During the last fortnight, different damaged roads in the four provinces and GilgitBaltistan had been restored.
The prime minister had already stressed that rehabilitation of the communication and links roads was the top priority.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has commended the Ministry of Communications and National Highway Authority (NHA) for the construction and rehabilitation of highways and bridges in flood-affected areas across the country.
According to NHA, Secretary Communications and Chairman National Highway Authority Captain (R) Muhammad Khurram Agha gave a detailed briefing to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the flight at Bib iNani on the flood-affected roads and the ongoing rehabilitation work on the link bridges and Pinjarra Bridge.
The Prime Minister lauded Federal Minister of Communications MaulanaAsadMehmood, Chairman NHA and his team for their keen interest and efforts on ongoing rehabilitation work on the bridges, highways etc.
Passengers were requested by NHA to get information from NHA zonal office before travelling while the road of National Highway N55 from Dadu to Nasirabad (35km) has been submerged in flood water. The district administration has also closed N55 for traffic and diverted N55 traffic to N-5. Therefore, due to the traffic of N55, there has been an additional load of traffic on N-5. However, the Motorway Police was trying to restore traffic on N5.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday urged the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and other global agencies to support Pakistan as the climate-induced calamities had adversely affected the country’s children.
On his Twitter handle, the prime minister said over 400 children were dead in recent floods which make up one-third of the overall death toll.
The children were exposed to a greater risk of water-borne diseases, he added.
“As Pakistan battles one of the worst climate-induced calamities, among the most adversely affected are children. With over 400 dead, they make up one third of overall death toll. Now they are at even greater risk of water-borne diseases. UNICEF & other global agencies should help,” the prime minister posted.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Sunday here met with Charge de Affaires of United Arab Emirates and discussed matters of mutual interest.
On behalf of the Pakistani nation, the Prime Minister thanked the government of the United Arab Emirates for sending planeloads of goods for the flood affectees.
He thanked President UAE Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for sending relief goods worth 50 million dollars and also thanked Prime Minister UAE Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for providing aid of 50 million Emirati Dirham.
The PM said the United Arab Emirates stood with Pakistan in every hour of need and always supported Pakistan on the diplomatic front and on issues of foreign affairs.
Pakistan valued its relations with the United Arab Emirates, he added.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a telephonic conversation with the Amir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, today.
Recalling the recent visit of the Prime Minister to Qatar, the Prime Minister expressed the resolve to working relentlessly to implement the decisions taken during the visit.
The Amir conveyed condolences on the loss of precious lives and property caused by floods in Pakistan. His Highness assured Qatar’s support for the flood-affected people of Pakistan.
The Prime Minister thanked the Amir for relief support provided by Qatar, including the air bridge established by Qatar for the provision of goods and equipment, as well as for the establishment of a field hospital in Sindh.
Pakistan and Qatar enjoy close and cordial relations rooted firmly in shared faith, mutual understanding and commonality of interests.
Meanwhile, the implementation process for grant of relief to power consumers over fuel charge adjustment (FCA) as announced by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif began with the issuance of a notification by the relevant ministry.
According to a notification of the Ministry of Energy (Power Division), Non-ToU domestic, non-protected consumers having 201-300 units consumption would not pay any FCA in August billing month. All the power distribution companies including K-Electric had been directed to implement the decision.
The fuel charge adjustment was added in the electricity bills for the month of August which drew citizens’ protest.
Under the prime minister’s direction, the revised bills were being issued besides, an extension in due date.
Those consumers who had paid their August bills would get the credit of the FCA amount in their September bills, the notification said. – APP
