- Rain affected traders call for compensation of losses
Heavy showers that lashed Rawalpindi since early morning on Saturday resulted in many areas in the city being inundated by the rainwater.
Reportedly, low-lying areas were submerged in rainwater while the water level in Nullah Lai at Katarian and Gawalmandi touched seventeen and a half feet, slightly below the danger mark of 18 feet. However, the flooded nullah caused inundation of many areas because the Leh nullah could not take more water of rain.
According to a report water also entered the Holy Family’s dengue ward, creating immense problems for the patients.
Locals tried to save their belongs and flush the water out of their houses on self help basis in Dhok Hasu, Fauji Colony and Dhok Matkal areas.
According to Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), widespread rain with thundershowers is expected in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, while at scattered places in Sibbi Zhob, Kalat, Naseerabad, Sukkur, Larkana divisions and Gilgit-Baltistan during the next 24 hours.
Scattered heavy falls are also expected in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Gujranwala, Lahore, Hazara divisions and Kashmir.
COMPENSATION FOR LOSSES:
Meanwhile, a delegation of rain affected traders led by Mr. Abdul Ghaffar Chaudhry, Secretary General, Traders Welfare Association, I&T Center, G-8/1, Islamabad visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and called upon Metro Bus Project Committee Chairman, Mr. Hanif Abbasi, to arrange due compensation for them as they have suffered huge business losses due to the entry of rain water in their shops.
They said that the Nullah passing through the commercial centre at the back of Passport Office near Peshawar Mor was blocked during the construction of Metro Bus Station at Kashmir Highway due to which lot of water had accumulated during recent rains and entered the shops in the area damaging plenty of products and causing great business loss to the traders.
Speaking at the occasion, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President, Muzzamil Hussain Sabri, stressed that the Metro chairman should form a committee to assess the damage caused to the traders of the area by rain water so that they could be paid due compensation for the business loss.
He said the recent rains have affected many bus stations including Peshawar Mor, Centaurus, 7th Avenue, Kutchery and Shaheed-i-Milat where water flowed down the staircases and dripped from the ceiling, inundating the stations. He said billions of rupees were spend on construction of Metro Bus stations was no proper arrangements were made for drainage of rain water. He said more rain was expected in coming days and stressed upon the government to look into this issue seriously to ensure proper drainage of water during monsoon so that business community could be saved from business losses and people could be saved from any mishaps.
A delegation of ICCI comprising Zubair Ahmed Malik, Zafar Bakhtawari, Saeed Bhatti, Naveed Malik, Basir Daud, Nisar Mirza and Baber Chaudhry also visited the affected market and expressed solidarity with the affected traders.