PESHAWAR: Pakistan People’s Party Chitral MPA Saleem Khan on Friday complained about delay in the rehabilitation of flood victims in his district and warned another human tragedy would happen if necessary steps were not taken in this respect before the advent of the winter.

He asked the government to announce a comprehensive package of at least Rs10 billion for the rehabilitation of calamity survivors, restoration of infrastructure and development in the district.

Saleem Khan told reporters at the Peshawar Press Club that the July-August floods had played havoc with public life and property by claiming 40 lives and displacing over 2,000 people and that displaced families lacked proper shelter.

He said floods had washed away fertile agricultural land, orchards and standing crops, and destroyed 250 irrigation channels, 50 bridges, link roads, four megawatts Rashun powerhouse and several mini-hydel power units bringing life to a standstill but the government had yet to take steps to mitigate the people’s misery.

MPA demands Rs10 billion package

Accompanied by PPP activists including Shakiruddin, the lawmaker said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, PTI chief Imran Khan, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah and Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had visited Chitral and sympathised with the people and even the prime minister had promised to waive off agricultural loans for local growers but the promise had yet to be fulfilled despite passage of three months.

He said the supply of electricity and drinking and irrigation water stood suspended stressing out the people though the district administration had already conducted damage need assessment.

“Displaced people continue to live in tents and if the government doesn’t rehabilitate them, another human tragedy will occur due to the chilly weather. And in that case, the current rulers will be to blame,” he said.

Saleem Khan said link roads had temporarily been repaired but transportation of goods to different localities was still a serious issue and therefore, the people faced shortage of household items.

He said consumer commodities had seen a surge in province for being in short supply.

Referring to a resolution passed by the provincial assembly for wheat supply to the people of Chitral at half price for next three years, the lawmaker said the government was had yet to act upon the resolution to the unrest of growers in the district.

He demanded Rs0.5 million each for the reconstruction of houses destroyed in floods and allotment of one kanal land each for calamity survivors.

Saleem Khan asked foreign donors to participate in the people’s rehabilitation and infrastructure restoration.

He warned if the government didn’t rehabilitate people and restore infrastructure without delay, the people of Chitral would stage a sit-in outside parliament in Islamabad and observe a hunger strike outside the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar to register their protest.

Published in Dawn, October 10th , 2015

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