The World Bank (WB) will provide $850 million in aid to 34 flood-affected districts of Pakistan, sources said on Monday. As per the official sources, Dera Ghazi (DG) Khan and Rajanpur are among the districts that are receiving the aid. The representatives of the United Nations Organisation (UNO) started developing an action plan for the assistance programme of the WB. A delegation of the UNO also met DG Khan Division Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha in Multan. The delegation comprised Tanveer Ahmad Khan and Shumaila Ruhi among others. Officers of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and those of Ehsaas Programme South Punjab were also present in the meeting. “All the flood-hit people have gone back to their areas. The homeless flood victims are staying in tents,” DG Khan Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha told the meeting. “The survey of the flood-affected areas will be completed in a week.

The survey teams comprise representatives of the administration, PDMA, Urban Unit and Pakistan Army,” he added. “The survey is being carried out with real time and location. 100 teams are busy in DG Khan and 75 in Rajanpur for the survey,” he stated. “95 per cent of the canal system has been restored in DG Khan and Rajanpur. The restoration of canal system destroyed by floods was a big challenge,” he informed the meeting. “The Punjab government has provided a huge sum of Rs750 million for the restoration of the canal system. 300 school buildings had been damaged by flood,” he added. “Classes have been restored in 75 per cent of the schools that had been hit by the floods. Work has also been started on the construction of drains to protect Jampur, Rajanpur and Rojhan from floods in the future,” he stated.

“Water channels will also be streamlined in DG Khan district. The Punjab government has decided to introduce an easy procedure for the payment of aid to the flood victims,” he affirmed. “The flood victims will be paid in cash from the Bank of Punjab upon receiving the message. Full cooperation will be done with the UNO and other international organisations,” he pledged. “The UNO wants to work with the administration under an integrated system. An action plan should be developed soon for the funding of the WB,” UNO representative Tanveer Ahmad Khan said. The UNO representatives also inquired about the health facilities, food supply and crop cultivation.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP