CCI to ensure transparent distribution of relief funds

ISLAMABAD: The Council of Common Interests (CCI) has said it will become a ‘credible face’ of the government and take all policy decisions for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the flood-affected areas and equitable and transparent distribution of funds.

A meeting of the council presided over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani here on Monday also decided that the payment of initial instalment of compensation, Rs20,000 for every flood-affected family already announced by the NDMC, would be initiated and smart cards issued by Nadra would be used for the purpose. It was decided that the federal and provincial governments would share the burden of payment of the first instalment.

The federal finance minister presided over a separate meeting for collecting funds for the purpose.

Matters relating to the setting up of National Oversight Disaster Management Council (NODMC), decided at a high-level meeting on August 19, could not be finalised at the meeting. However, the council expressed the hope that a notification would be issued ‘within 24 hours’. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has nominated two representatives while other provinces also promised to finalise the names of their representatives in a day.

The NODMC will comprise 13 members -- two each from the four provinces, three from the federation and one each from Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK.

Despite reported friction between the provinces and the centre over distribution of relief funds, the only dissent at the meeting came from Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif who complained that his province had received little from relief resources.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti, whose government has been criticising the federal government, informed the meeting about relief goods provided by international aid agencies.

Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira told reporters that the meeting mainly focussed on providing credibility to mobilisation, management and distribution of relief funds. He said the prime minister had requested the chief ministers to submit their proposals.

He said the finance ministry, in collaboration with the provinces, would identify flood-hit areas and flood victims. It would also place the process of resource mobilisation and expenditures on a website, Mr Kaira said, adding that NGOs would also be asked to do so.