PM increases flood relief assistance under BISP to Rs70bn | The Express Tribune

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced an increase in flood relief assistance under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) from Rs28 billion to Rs70 billion.

During his visit to Qamber Shahadkot to oversee the rescue operations in Sindh, the premier said while talking to the media that he has decided to increase the amount due to the surge in the number of families displaced in the calamity. 

He went on to say that this level of devastation has never been seen before in the province.

He lauded the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) administration and their efforts for reparation and relief for the people of Sindh.

“Everyone is working extremely hard, however, the challenges are immeasurable and resources are scant,” he said.

The premier was accompanied by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah, and attended a briefing about the damages caused by the floods in the province.

Read: PR declares ‘flood emergency’

During his address, he praised the “transparency and the organised way” with which the BISP – started by late former prime minister Benazir Bhutto – has been executing relief operations for the flood-affected families.

“We are also planning to utilise the grant announced for each province through the help of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA),” he added.

“There is destruction and ruin all around, with all crops destroyed. Nothing is left,” he said, adding that “Sindh is the worst-hit province, followed by Balochistan, then K-P [Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa], Northern Punjab and other regions.”

He said joint efforts at the national level were the need of the hour to mitigate the suffering of the flood-affected people.

The premier furthered that provision of shelter to the displaced persons was direly needed along with mosquito nets, adding that the government had placed the order for the purchase of seven million tents, while mosquito kits too will be distributed soon.

Read More: Army restores flood-hit Bahrain bridge in Swat

Furthermore, he urged the nation, including the intelligentsia and media, to focus on the flood situation and set aside politics.

“This is not the time for politics, but a time to unite as a nation and face the challenges in front of us,” he said, alluding to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s speeches in recent rallies in Punjab. 

Prior to his day-long visit to the flood-affected areas of Shahadakot in Sindh, Shehbaz said in a tweet that “Imran Niazi’s despicable utterances to malign institutions are touching new levels every day.”

“His nefarious agenda is clearly to disrupt & undermine Pakistan,” he added. 

It is pertinent to note that the PTI chairman had fired a broadside at his political rivals on Sunday, alleging that Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari wanted to appoint the army chief of their choice because if a “strong and patriotic army chief” came, they would be questioned about their loot.