MULTAN, Sep 12 (APP): Corps Commander Multan Lt. Gen. Shafqaat Ahmad on Sunday gave a detailed briefing to Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on relief operation, being carried out by Pakistan army in flood hit areas of South Punjab. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Minister for Defence Production Sardar Abdul Qayyum Jatoi, Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar besides MNAs and MPAs from flood hit areas were present. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.
The Corps Commander said that army would utilise its own resources to reconstruct and renovate over 100 schools and as many health facilities including Basic Health Units (BHUs), Rural Health Units (RHUs) and hospitals which were damaged in floods.
Renovation and reconstruction of some of these damaged health centres and schools have been completed while work on others was in progress, the Corps Commander said adding that the process would complete by October 15.
He informed the Prime Minister that army was providing dry food packets, sufficient for 15 days, to nearly 378,000 people who have returned to their homes in the affected areas.
Prime Minister Gilani expressed satisfaction on the relief operation and lauded Pakistan army for its services in rescuing the flood hit people and providing them relief at their doorsteps.
He also hailed the role of other government agencies for their contribution in rescue and relief operation.
Lt. Gen. Shafqaat Ahmad said that work on restoration of 160 km long road network, 100 km railway track and 1000 km long irrigation network would be completed before September 15.
Water would be released in the canals on September 20 on experimental basis and its availability to farmers would be ensured for the Rabi crops, he added.
He said that almost 80 percent affected people of Layyah and Taunsa Sharif, 75 percent of Dera Ghazi Khan and Muzaffargarh and 60 percent people of flood hit Jampur have returned to their homes.
Some 20 to 25 percent affected persons of Rajanpur and Rojhan have also returned to their homes, he added.
Giving details of infrastructure restoration, he said that telecommunication network and electricity and gas supply to Layyah has been completed up to 83 percent, 95 percent in Dera Ghazi Khan and 90 percent in Rahimyar Khan.
The Multan Corps Commander said that the relief and rehabilitation process was in progress in a coordinated manner to ensure swift help to the affected people. He added that a coordination group comprising officers, UN representatives and army officers was operational.
He said that the main relief centre was operational in Multan from where relief goods were being transported to 12 more relief centres in flood hit areas and onward to other relief centres serving the people in flood devastated areas.
He said more than 2.1 million acre land consisting of 2000 villages and 2.6 million population, 500,000 houses, nearly 1818 km roads with 29 bridges, 100 km railways tracks and 1,000 km canal system have been destroyed in flood hit parts of South Punjab.
PARCO, KAPCO, PSO and AES Power House too were damaged in the raging flood pressure, the Prime Minister was informed.
It directly caused a severe shortfall of electricity that exceeded to 750 megawatts, the Corps Commander added.
“Nearly 7,000 personnel of army are continuously busy in relief efforts with 12 helicopters, 3000 boats and taking the affected people out of danger to safe areas,” he said adding that they are also providing ration to more than 300,000 people on daily basis in their respective places.
Later, MNAs and MPAs from flood hit areas also gave details regarding the volume of damage done by the floods and its devastating impact on the lives of common people.
The Prime Minister promised that aid would be utilized in judicious manner to mitigate sufferings of the affected people and the government would remain engaged in the relief operation till they start their normal life afresh.
The Multan Corps Commander informed the Prime Minister that Australia has set up a temporary health centre in flood hit Kot Addu tehsil of district Muzaffargarh on the request of government of Pakistan to provide basic health facilities to the affected people.
Seventeen civil doctors, nurses and over 30 persons from Australian military’s medical wing were providing basic health facilities and mother and child health care at this centre.
The health centre, being run by Australian aid agency Ausaid and Australian Defence Force, remains open every day from 6 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. and will continue to operate for next few months, the Corps Commander said.
He informed the Premier that Australia has also extended help to Pakistan in other ways. They have provided tents, big covers, generators, water purification plants and pregnancy kits for 100,000 pregnant women of flood hit areas.
Australia has also pledged Rs 2750 million aid for recovery and reconstruction in flood ravaged areas.
Eighteen Australian humanitarian work experts have also been sent to Pakistan who will join UN Agency, Red-R Australia, Australian Red Cross and NGOs to work in flood hit areas to extend help to the affected persons, the Corps Commander said.
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