KARACHI: Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal called on Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at CM House here on Sunday and discussed with him the overall post-floods situation in the province with reference to a gap in demand and supply of relief goods.

They also discussed repair and restoration of damaged highways and railway lines in Sindh.

Mr Ahsan told the CM that the prime minister had sent him to Sindh to ascertain the gap and explore ways and means to meete the requirement.

Mr Shah informed him that around 250,000 tents had been arranged and distributed among affected people so far against a requirement of 1.5 million tents. He pointed out that the floodwaters were being drained from towns and villages to facilitate displaced people’s return to their homes. But tents were needed to accommodate them until their houses were rebuilt and they could go back to their areas, he added.

The CM said he had approached friendly countries for procurement of tents and they were trying to help out us.

The federal minister said that he would also approach some embassies and find out some major tent vendors abroad so that the requirement could be met.

Another issue that came under discussion between the two sides was restoration of railway tracks and damaged highways in Sindh. The CM said that the federal minister for railways was working on the words after his recent visit to the sites and meeting the provincial ministers concerned.

Regarding restoration of highways, Mr Shah said that he had held a meeting with the Federal Minister for Communication Maulana Asad Mahmood along with National Highway Authority chairman and other officials.

The CM said that Mr Asad had assured him that the damaged portions of the National Highway would be restored on a top priority basis and the Indus highway restoration would be taken up once its inundated portions were cleared of water. “We are working on disposing of the water from Indus Highway near Khairpur Nathan Shah and other sections,” the CM said.

The chief minister and the visiting federal minister agreed that the devastation was so widespread that the situation could be brought under control only with support of the international community. The international community was sensitised about the situation during the recent visit to Pakistan by the UN secretary general, who made appeals to all members the international community in this regard.

Mr Ahsan and Mr Shah agreed to keep in touch with regard to the relief works and cope with the gap in demand and supply of relief goods so that the National Disaster Management Authority could be used to arrange required goods.

Meanwhile, Ahsan Iqbal visited some flood-hit areas and relief camps in Khaipur Nathan Shah on Sunday, our Dadu correspondent adds.

Speaking to local reporters at a camp in Jakhro village, he said the federal government was with people of Sindh in this difficult time. He said that Dadu district was badly affected by the natural disaster.

He said that all possible efforts would be made to save affected people and their properties. He said they would be rehabilitated in their respective areas with the support of Sindh government.

He acknowledged that the houses, lands and crops were destroyed by floods on a massive scale. He realised that the affected people were facing hard times.

The federal minister distributed relief goods among displaced families at the camp.

Former MPA and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Saurath Thebo accompanied the minister during his visit.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2022