President promises adequate compensation

MUZAFFARGARH / NOWSHERA: President Asif Ali Zardari visited flood-hit people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab on Saturday, assuring them that the government would provide full compensation for the property that they had lost in the flooding.

He said the government had decided to ban export of wheat and some other commodities and these would be utilised to meet their food needs.

In the flood-stricken area of Alipur in Punjab, the president landed at a college and rushed to a relief camp set up in a government-run school, said State Minister for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar.

Ms Khar, who accompanied the president at the camp, quoted the president as having said that he had asked Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to hold a probe into a breach that occurred in the LMB canal and opening of spillways, a decision that resulted in severe devastation in the district.

Because of the breach in the Left Marginal Bank canal along the Taunsa barrage about 60 per cent of the district has been submerged.

Dost Muhammad Khosa, a member of the PML-led provincial government, was present during Mr Zardari’s visit to the area.

The PML-N mostly gave the cold shoulder to Mr Zardari during his visits to Punjab. During Mr Zardari’s last visit to Lahore, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had preferred to stay in Turkey, thus avoiding a meeting with the president and co-chairperson of the PPP.

CM says 3.7 million affected in Sindh

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has termed the devastation caused by floods a historic tragedy, saying over 15 million people have so far been affected, including 3.7 million in Sindh.

The chief minister was addressing a press conference here on Saturday after visiting flood-affected areas. He said losses suffered by Sindh could be over Rs40 billion.

However, he pointed out, because of preventive measures taken by his government the human loss was restricted to 11, including seven people who were swept away by floods and four died during the rescue operation.

The chief minister said 17 districts had so far been declared calamity-hit areas in the view of massive damage to crops and properties there.

He paid tribute to the services rendered by the armed forces and Rangers in the rescue operation which had helped the government to meet its prime objective of saving human lives.

He appealed to the people to donate generously in the relief fund the Sindh government had set up with Rs10 billion. He said so far 618 relief camps had been set up.

Mr Shah said rice crop of million of dollars had been swept away in the quality rice growing area which was mostly exported.

Referring to the situation in Kachcha areas, he said people there were reluctant to leave their houses.

Conflicting reports about cholera

PESHAWAR: Reports about a suspected case of cholera sparked panic in Swat valley on Saturday.

Even the prime minister referred to the report in his address to the nation.

Alarm bells started ringing among welfare organisations working in the flood-ravaged regions across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

But the Director-General of Health, Dr Sajid Shaheen, contradicted the report about confirmation of a cholera case in Mingora, saying that health teams deputed in the affected areas had been reporting complaints of watery diarrhoea, but there was no report of cholera as yet.

“The situation is extremely precarious in Swat, but our teams have established a surveillance system to check epidemics,” he said.

“People are suffering from acute watery diarrhoea but the situation is under control.”

In reply to a statement attributed to a UN official about cholera in Swat, he said “we are prepared to cope with the situation and such reports tend to cause alarm”.

Dr Bakht Jamal, Swat’s top health official, said a two-year-old child, Asad, had been hospitalised due to diarrhoea. Stool samples from Asad and his brother had been sent for tests, he said on telephone from Swat.

“There has been at least one confirmed case of cholera in Mingora,” Mr Maurizio Giuliano, a spokesman for the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs, was quoted by a western news agency as saying. But Mr Giuliano later said he had been misquoted.

“The ministry of health has not notified us of any confirmed case of cholera. However, cholera is endemic in this region, and in the current emergency situation it is expected that cholera cases might occur sporadically amongst the susceptible population in the affected areas.

“Therefore the threat from cholera in the flood affected communities remains high. In order to avoid excess mortality, it is important that all acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) cases with severe dehydration have easy and rapid access to treatment. At this time, at least 36,000 cases of suspected AWD have been reported.”

Gilani accepts Nawaz proposal on relief panel

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif agreed on Saturday to set up a ‘credible national body comprising men of integrity’ to ensure transparency in the collection, management and distribution of relief funds among the flood-affected.

Mr Sharif said it was gratifying for him that Mr Gilani had accepted his proposal regarding the commission.

Mr Gilani hinted at the names of the likes of retired justices Rana Bhagwandas, Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim and Nasir Aslam Zahid to be nominated after getting their acceptance.

In their two-hour discussion, the prime minister was assisted by Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, Food and Agriculture Minister Nazar Mohammad Gondal and Water and Power Minister Raja Parvaiz Ashraf, while Mr Sharif was accompanied by Senator Ishaq Dar.

Addressing a joint press conference at the PM House auditorium after the meeting, the two leaders said they would appeal to the rich to come forward to help the millions of their compatriots in distress.

The prime minister said: “We can together turn around the economy which is destroyed by the floods by shunning our political considerations and point scoring spree.”

Mr Gilani said he had discussed the today’s meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari who appreciated and encouraged the initiative. He said he had also called Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan and MQM leader Farooq Sattar and would continue to contact other leaders to muster their support for a national cause.

He said he and Mr Sharif stood together to help the people who had lost their homes and all means of livelihood.

The PML-N chief said he had witnessed the “unprecedented devastation” caused by the floods, adding that there was a need to unite the nation.

He said he along with the prime minister would tour the entire country to raise funds without waiting for the international assistance.

“We will not beg the world to come and help us. If any country wishes to extend help it may do so, but we have the ability to handle the calamity on our own,” he added.

Mr Sharif said the situation demanded that no distinction was made between the government and the opposition in reaching out to the flood-affected people and to raise and disburse funds.

He said that a meeting of the Council of Common Interests would be convened soon to evaluate the devastation and determine share of expenditures on a regional basis.

When asked if parties outside parliament would also be taken on board, Mr Gilani said: “It is a national effort in which not only political parties but also leaders of civil society organisations will be solicited.”

He said that in the next phase of planning it would be ensured that no structure was built on waterways and highways to avoid future devastations.

In reply a question about the closure of some TV channels in some areas of Sindh and Karachi, the prime minister said he had directed the Pemra chairman to ensure that no channels were blocked or he would risk his job.

Agencies add: Prime Minister Gilani in a televised address marking the Independence Day said that 20 million people had been affected by the floods.

“The floods affected some 20 million people, destroyed standing crops and food storages worth billions of dollars, causing colossal loss to national economy,” he said. “I would appeal to the world community to extend a helping hand to fight this calamity.”

Mr Sharif said names recommended for the fundraising body included Justice Rana Bhagwan Das, Justice Fakhruddin G. Ibrahim, Dr Adeeb Rizvi, Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Ali Ahmed Kurd.

KP govt seeks Rs10bn from centre

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government sought Rs10 billion aid from federal government for relief and rehabilitation activities in the flood-hit areas of the province.

“The government immediately requires Rs10 to Rs25 billion for relief and rehabilitation work,” said Provincial Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain while addressing a press conference here Saturday.

He said that reconstruction and rehabilitation cost might exceed Rs2 trillion, but for immediate relief activities and rehabilitation work the provincial needed Rs10 billion from the centre. He urged federal government to show generosity and assist millions of destitute people badly affected by the floods.

He said that government would pay Rs25,000 to each affected family for repair work of damaged houses while those families who had lost their relatives in the floods would be paid Rs300,000 each.

He said that the province faced serious financial crises.“We need assistance from the federal government and international community,” said Mr Hussain, adding that provincial government would negotiate with foreign donors within the framework of the constitution.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, he said, would not directly seek help from donors.

The minister expressed satisfaction over the all parties’ conference hosted by the provincial government to take all mainstream political parties into confidence about the prevailing situation and also seek their guidance regarding relief and rehabilitation activities.

Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti chaired the conference. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Jamaat-i-Islami, Pakistan Tehrik Insaf, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl and Pakhtunkhwa Mili Awami Party leaders attended the conference. Pakistan People’s Party-Sherpao and Pakistan Muslim League boycotted the event.

Interestingly opposition leader in the provincial assembly and JUI-F parliamentary leader Akram Khan Durrani had also announced boycott of the conference, but his party provincial chief Maulana Amanullah was present in the APC.

Officials of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority briefed politicians of the meeting about the losses caused by the floods and relief operation being carried out in different areas of the province.

The conference decided that there would be no politics on the natural calamity and political forces would focus attention on relief and rehabilitation activities.

Mr Hussain appreciated goodwill gesture of the political parties and said that there was no room for politics at this critical moment. “It has been decided that ruling parties and other political forces will not capitalise on the disaster,” he said, adding that political leadership had decided to show unity to resolve masses problems.

He said that political parties criticised the government’s relief activities and also gave recommendations and suggestions for fair distribution of relief assistance among the affected people. “The government welcomes positive criticism and will take help from political forces,” he said.

He said that APC had suggested expediting work on roads in Kohistan and Malakand division to provide access to the stranded population.

He said that water purification plants would be installed in the affected areas while tubewells would also be repaired to ensure provision of clean drinking water.

He said that some elements were trying to create an impression as if the army was a separate entity apart from the government. “Such impression is not in the country’ interest,” he said, adding that on the directives of the government the armed forces had launched relief activities.

He said that army was national institution and it was fulfilling its responsibility like other state entities. He said that government appreciated role of the army, navy and air force and urged commentators not to consider the army as separate institution.

Europe releases another 10 million euros to Pakistan

BRUSSELS: Europe released 10 million euros in emergency aid to help Pakistan's flood victims on Wednesday, taking total humanitarian aid over the past 12 months to more than 110 million euros.

The European Commission decision “takes immediate effect and comes as an addition to the 30 million euros for humanitarian assistance allocated” on July 30, said a statement from the EU's day-to-day executive.

“My heartfelt condolences go to all those affected by this crisis and the European Union stands ready to support Pakistan both in financial and political terms in dealing with the consequences of this terrible event,” said Catherine Ashton, EU foreign affairs chief.

The floods have affected nearly 14 million people already, with a third of the country under water, almost 300,000 houses damaged and the more populous south now endangered.

The money will go towards clean drinking water, shelter, food, blankets, hygiene kits and medical assistance, the commission said.

Pakistan issued fresh flood warnings on Wednesday and called on foreign donors to step up aid to contain the country's worst humanitarian disaster.

The United Nations was to launch an international appeal in New York. It believes 1,600 people have died in the floods while Pakistan has confirmed 1,243 deaths.

The United States announced on Tuesday it would increase its flood aid by another 20 million dollars to 55 million dollars.

Incompetent board affecting team: Mani

ISLAMABAD: Former ICC president Ehsan Mani says the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is not equipped to revive international cricket in Pakistan while Ijaz Butt is in charge.

“There’s a possibility of an international XI touringPakistan within one year, but it’s impossible for the present board working under Ijaz Butt to fully revive international cricket in Pakistan,” Mani was quoted as sayng in a local daily on Wednesday.

The PCB is yet to submit a report on last year’s militant attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team’s bus at Lahore that left six police officials and a van driver dead. The gunmen also injured several Sri Lankan team players and officials.

A Lahore high court judge has heavily criticized senior police officials in his report for being ill-prepared, poorly equipped and incompetent in their efforts to prevent the attack on March 3, 2009.

“Until this report is handed over to the ICC, revival of international cricket in Pakistan is impossible,” he said.

Mani said the PCB had promised presidential level security to the Sri Lankan cricket team, but “it has thus far not been able to fix the responsibility of the attack on anyone.”

Mani said he was willing to help Pakistan, but he needed complete independence to run the affairs of cricket.

“If the board is run like it is nowadays, it will affect the team’s performance,” he said.

“There is a lot of confusion in the decision making of the PCB which is also damaging country’s image.”

Mani also said the actions of PCB chairman Butt should be more accountable saying: “without accountability there is no chance of improvement.”

Parliamentarian Iqbal Mohammad Ali has also written a two-page letter to President Asif Ali Zardari, the PCB’s patron, calling for the removal of Butt as PCB chairman.

Butt took over from Nasim Ashraf in Oct. 2008, but has since come under severe criticism by former test cricketers and parliamentarians.