Announcing donations of Rs11.4 million for the flood victims in Sindh, the senators expressed distrust in the government agencies on Tuesday and said they would buy and distribute all necessary items themselves among the flood victims.
This was said in the meeting of the Senate’s Special Committee for Assistance to Flood Victims. The committee was constituted by Senate Deputy Chairman Jan Muhammad Jamali. The committee was chaired by Leader of Opposition in the Senate Maulana Abdul Gafoor Haideri. Expressing the gravity of the situation, Senator Gul Muhammad Lot said that around 300 people had died in the floods and crops in around 12 districts were damaged which may raise the issue of food security in future.
Ishaq Dar said that damages were enormous and senators should come up with practicable solutions to the crisis. He said that some committees of the members of the upper house should be constituted to contact businessmen and philanthropists to generate funds for the assistance of the flood victims. He also said that it should be mandatory for all members of the Upper House to donate at least one month salaries for affected people.
Senator SM Zafar said that senators should brief foreign diplomats to generate funds. Ishad Dar said the Foreign office was coordinating with international donors and the senate should not indulge in duplication. Dar also added that government departments could not be relied for purchasing and distribution owing to rampant corruption in the public sector.
