ISLAMABAD: It seems the coalition government is “playing politics” with relief and rehabilitation process of flood victims as the centre is going to release relief grants to Sindh and Balochistan governments but not “willing” to issue the same to the PTI-led KP and GB governments.
According to reliable sources, the Ministry of Finance, as per the direction of central government, has initiated process for transfer of relief grants to the Sindh and Balochistan governments. Whereas in the case of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, it would be disbursed to flood affectee through federal government’s departments like the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and administration of the affected districts in the province.
The finance division, sources informed, prepared the summary for transfer of Rs15 billion to Sindh and Rs10 billion to Balochistan in the head of flood grants announced by the prime minister. After release, the provinces could utilize the funds on its discretion for rehabilitation of the affected people.
However, the grants for KP would not be transferred to the provincial government. Earlier Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced Rs10 billion grants for the flood-affected populace of KP as flood relief assistance.
As per insiders, the center would also not transfer the announced flood grant of Rs3 billion to the PTI-led Gilgit-Baltistan government. But the amount would be distributed to flood affectees through NDMA or other federal departments in coordination with relevant district administrations.
Earlier, the PM announced that the federal government had allocated an amount of Rs28 billion, which was being disbursed to the affectees through NDMA and Benazir Income Support Programme. Every affected family would be given a cash amount of Rs25,000 whereas each family was entitled to Rs1 million that had lost its near or dear one in the floods.
While announcing the flood relief grants for KP, the PM had announced that the funds would be spent on relief and rehabilitation of the flood-hit people of the province whereas the federal government, NDMA and the provincial administration, through close coordination, would ensure transparency and immediate disbursement in the affected areas.
In GB, the PM had announced that an amount of Rs3 billion shall be allocated for rehabilitation and reconstruction in Gilgit-Baltistan. Besides an amount of Rs100 million would be allocated for development in village Bubur in District Ghizer. Besides, Rs1 million each would be disbursed to the families of the deceased persons immediately as ex-gratia compensation, as per approved policy. The amount would be recouped through NDMA.
