Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that the floods have affected 7.3 million people in Sindh and there is an urgent need to cater for food, shelter and medicines for the victims.
Making an opening speech at the cabinet meeting here on Wednesday, he said that all resources will be employed for relief and rehabilitation of the affected population and the government on its part will leave no stone unturned in bringing back normalcy to their lives.
PM instructed Finance Division for release of 1.5 billion rupees for the flood affectees in addition to 500 million rupees already released.
The government has also decided to give cash grant through Watan Cards to most vulnerable families, he said.
He urged the Sindh Government to assess the damage caused to the private properties so that those who suffered financial losses are adequately compensated.
Prime Minister Gilani visited the flood affected areas twice with the Chief Minister of Sindh and got first hand briefings from the NDMA as well about the loss of human life, damage to standing crops, private properties, and destruction of infrastructure.
He said damage assessment has been done by the United Nations and NDMA jointly and an international appeal has been launched simultaneously from Islamabad and Geneva for 356 million dollars.
Regarding dengue fever, the prime minister said that all out efforts will be made to eradicate the disease.
He said the federal government will play its role in helping all federating units in facing challenges beyond their capacities.
Prime Minister Gilani strongly condemned the murder of Former Afghan President Prof. Burhanuddin Rabbani. He also condemned the assassination of pilgrims in Mastung and the suicide attack on the residence of a senior police officer in Karachi.
He reiterated that such cowardly acts will not deter our resolve to eliminate the terrorists whose leadership has either been killed or arrested.
He said that writ of the Government will be established in Karachi and other parts of the country.
Flood affected 7.3 million people in Sindh: PM
