7 flood-hit Sindh districts to get Rs 100m each: Gilani

SUKKUR: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday announced a grant of Rs 100 million each for seven districts of Sindh affected by the recent flooding.
Addressing a rally to celebrate the 44th Founding Day of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Gilani said that the seven districts of Sindh included Jamshoro, Dadu, Shahdadkot, Thatta, Hyderabad, Kashmore-Kandhkot and Shikarpur.
The prime minister said the world witnessed one of the worst floods in the history of the country which affected over 20 million people, adding that to mitigate the sufferings of the growers in the flood-affected areas, they would be given fertilizer and seeds free of charge.
“It is our endeavour to provide maximum relief to the people affected by the natural disaster,” he said. Gilani said the damaged Sukkur-Rohri bridge would be reconstructed. He also reiterated the federal government’s commitment to give the remaining Rs 80,000 per family to the flood victims as the provinces had contributed Rs 20,000 to each family.
“All the families affected by floods will be given Rs 100,000 each without any discrimination,” he added. He said under the devolution programme, the federal government will hand over responsibilities of at least five ministries to the provinces. He said the government would fulfill all the promises made by Benazir Bhutto.
Gilani said in order to fulfill her dreams, women will be delegated more and more powers and they would also be given health and life insurance facilities. About the government-media relations, Gilani said the government believed in the freedom of press and it would always welcome positive criticism from all quarters.
“It will be a welcome step if the government and the media jointly took measures to help flourish democracy in the country,” he added. About the agriculture sector, the prime minister said unscrupulous elements tried to create artificial food crisis in the country. He dispelled the impression that there was a sugar, wheat or flour shortage.
“There is no sugar shortage in the country, it is just propaganda against the government,” he said. The prime minister also rejected the notion that Pakistan was diplomatically isolated. “Had we been in isolation, there would not have been any assistance by foreign countries during the recent flooding,” he said.