CM orders arrest of culprits charging Rs3000 on payment to flood affected people under BISP

UMERKOT Aug,2022-  Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali has directed the police to arrest the agents who are deducting Rs3,000 under the garb of service charges from financial assistance of Rs25,000 being given to the flood affected people under Benazir Income Support Program BISP.

“This is unacceptable and uncalled for – I’ll not tolerate to deprive deserving people living in distress.”

This he said on Saturday while pressing over a meeting here at DC office to review the damages caused by heavy rains and the relief measures taken by the government.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, Syed Sardar Shah, Nasir Shah, Taimur Talpur, Mukesh Chawla, MNAs and MPAs of the area, commissioner Aijaz Shah, DIG Zulfikar Maher, DC Tahir Memon and others.

At the outset of the meeting, the chief minister was told that they were thankful to the government that it has started giving Rs25,000 financial assistance to the flood affected people. They complained that the BISP officials or agents involved in cash transfer were deducting Rs3,000 as service charges. At this the CM expressed displeasure and directed to arrest the persons making deduction from the cash transfers.

Umerkot: Displaced Flood affectees stranded under open sky as they wait for flood relief operations. “Our elected representatives come to us when there is a rally but didn’t visit us when we need them.” said a flood affectee. #SindhFloods #FloodsInSindh pic.twitter.com/kI72XK6y4a

— Daily Outcome (@DailyOutcome) August 25, 2022

This is quite surprising that our people do not spare even the homeless and displaced from deduction, he said and directed the DIG Mirpurkhas to arrest them and report him.

Mr Sardar Shah discussing the issue of restoration of natural water ways said that a study was conducted after the floods of 2011 which revealed that Rs28 billion were required for them.

“We are working the [restoration of old and natural water ways] but funds would be arranged through donors agencies,” he and added Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah has started work them.

Why #Umerkot was not declared affected area?
Rainwater of Sanghar distt (319mm) gushed to Umkrt via Pithoro to Kunri. crops damaged, houses collapsed rendering thousands of pple displacd. Aug 19: Umrkt 172 mm Sujawl 47 mm. on 17 Sujawal 45, 17, Umrkt 130 mm @MuradAliShahPPP pic.twitter.com/E3uaM8eIwH

— Daily Outcome (@DailyOutcome) August 20, 2022

Procurement of 350,000 tents

The CM said that his government has ordered procurement of 350,000 tents against a need of one million tents. “No firm is ready to take order for immediate delivery of tents, therefore brother countries like China, Iran and others are being requested for the purpose ,” he said.

Some of the participants of the meeting complained that the flood-affected people from Mirpurkhas, Tando Allahyar, Badin and Thar have settled on the sand dunes of Umerkot. At this the CM said they were their guests and must be treated decently and respectfully.

Rains claim four lives and injured 10 in Umerkot

Briefing the chief minister, the commissioner Mirpurkhas told him that Umerkot has received 570 mm rain, Kunri 644, Samaro 676 and Pithoro 337 mm. The rain has claimed four lives and injured 10 others.

The heavy downpour has submerged crops of cotton and others standing over 88885 acres and the rain had damaged 60300 houses and perished 1135.

400,000 people displaced

It was disclosed that over 400,000 people have displaced, of them 4923 have been shifted to 32 relief camps with the facility of regular provision of food and medical aid.

PDMA contribution

The PDMA has provided 4600 tents, 7000 mosquito nets, 2500 ration bags, 1000 Tarpal, 2200 Jerry cane and 2000 mosquito nets for cattle.

Mirpurkhas: the CM was told that heavy rains have affected out 662 dehs. Some 12 breaches in drains have developed breaches which were plugged timely.

Damages to infrastructure

The rain has damaged 605.62 KM roads, 83 culverts, and two bridges.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif briefed about Sindh situation:

The chief minister told the elected representatives present in the meeting that he has informed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that 308 mm more rainfall has been recorded than the normal rainfall. He added es that alone in August the province has received 784 percent more rain than the average rainfall.

Mr Shah said that 23 districts and their 101 talukas have been declared as calamity hit areas.

The CM told the prime minister that the initial estimates of losses has been made at Rs550 billion. 293 deaths have registered while 836 have sustained injuries.

According to Mr Shah 1.5 million houses have collapsed, 9197 cattle perished, 2845046 acre crops submerged and 570 roads damaged.

Mr Shah said that the damages caused to the road network of Karachi would cost Rs50 billion to repair them.

The chief minister assured the people, particularly the affected that they would be looked after properly.