President Zardari directs to expedite relief activities in flood-hit areas

RADIO PAKISTAN

President Asif Ali Zardari has directed to expedite relief and rehabilitation activities for the rain affected people of Sindh and Balochistan. He said this during a briefing through video-conferencing in Islamabad on Wednesday. The President said all available sources should be used for dewatering of the inundated areas. The President also asked for urgently providing wheat and sunflower seeds and fertilizers to the farmers in flood affected areas in all provinces. Spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar while briefing the media said that Chairman NDMA Dr. Zafar Iqbal Qadir said that 14000 tents in Sindh and 20000 tents were distributed in Balochistan to the affected families besides other parts of the country. The Chairman said that irrigation system of Desert Pat Feeder along Sindh Balochistan border was over-topped and breached at several places. Similarly Begari Sindh Feeder was also affected. To cope with the situation‚ Khirthar Branch was strengthened to serve as defence line and to divert water towards Hairdin Drain. He said that at present 69 de-watering pumps were operative to de-water rain water through various canals whereas eleven pumps were in standby in Sukkur. He said that further arrangements would be made in view of the emergent situation. The meeting was informed that 161‚245 ration packs have been distributed in Sindh‚ 17500 in Punjab and 42250 in Balochistan. The President directed that similar video conferencing facility be set up in the affected areas in Balochistan and linked with the Presidency for the briefing.