Visits Swat
August 19, 2010
MINGORA: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday pledged that his government would rehabilitate the flood-hit people in Swat Valley, who would get proper compensation.
Addressing local elders in Khwazakhela, he said the provision of relief to the flood victims all over the country was a priority of his government. Earlier, the prime minister along with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti and Federal Interior Minister Rahman Malik took an aerial view of the affected areas.
Meanwhile, many Swat residents expressed disappointment on the prime minister’s visit, saying no financial package for the affected area was announced. They added that the prime minister also remained silent on the restoration of power supply to Swat that had been disrupted for the last 22 days.
The local elders criticised their elected public representatives, who they believe kept the prime minister in the dark about the hardships of the Swati people. In his speech to the Swati elders, the prime minister said the government was cognizant of the hardships being faced by the flood-affected people as flash floods and incessant rains had left behind heart rending scenes.
He added that the war against the militants in Swat was won with the support of the people, adding that those matchless sacrifices would never go waste, as the Pakistani nation could not forget the struggle for the defence of the country.
Prime Minister Gilani said Pakistan made history when after the military operation Rah-i-Rast, more than 2.5 million displaced people of Malakand region were repatriated within 90 days. He added that it was a new precedent in the human history to repatriate such a large number of uprooted people within a short span of time.
He said the situation in Swat was not like Nowshera and Charsadda, yet the floods had wreaked havoc in the area. He said the first priority was rescue and evacuation in the affected areas and that was now being followed by provision of relief, including food, medicines and tents.
He said the next phase would be rehabilitation and payment of compensation to the bereaved families who had lost their near and dear ones in the calamity along with payments for destroyed and damaged houses. He added that the communication minister had been assigned the task to complete the restoration of the destroyed infrastructure forthwith.
Prime Minister Gilani promised that the government would focus on all the areas where relief could not reach due to inaccessibility and soon aid would be delivered following an improvement in weather conditions. On the occasion, Chief Minister Hoti said Swat was fast recovering from the effects of militancy but the floods had pushed the region 50 years back in terms of development.
Addressing local elders in Khwazakhela, he said the provision of relief to the flood victims all over the country was a priority of his government. Earlier, the prime minister along with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti and Federal Interior Minister Rahman Malik took an aerial view of the affected areas.
Meanwhile, many Swat residents expressed disappointment on the prime minister’s visit, saying no financial package for the affected area was announced. They added that the prime minister also remained silent on the restoration of power supply to Swat that had been disrupted for the last 22 days.
The local elders criticised their elected public representatives, who they believe kept the prime minister in the dark about the hardships of the Swati people. In his speech to the Swati elders, the prime minister said the government was cognizant of the hardships being faced by the flood-affected people as flash floods and incessant rains had left behind heart rending scenes.
He added that the war against the militants in Swat was won with the support of the people, adding that those matchless sacrifices would never go waste, as the Pakistani nation could not forget the struggle for the defence of the country.
Prime Minister Gilani said Pakistan made history when after the military operation Rah-i-Rast, more than 2.5 million displaced people of Malakand region were repatriated within 90 days. He added that it was a new precedent in the human history to repatriate such a large number of uprooted people within a short span of time.
He said the situation in Swat was not like Nowshera and Charsadda, yet the floods had wreaked havoc in the area. He said the first priority was rescue and evacuation in the affected areas and that was now being followed by provision of relief, including food, medicines and tents.
He said the next phase would be rehabilitation and payment of compensation to the bereaved families who had lost their near and dear ones in the calamity along with payments for destroyed and damaged houses. He added that the communication minister had been assigned the task to complete the restoration of the destroyed infrastructure forthwith.
Prime Minister Gilani promised that the government would focus on all the areas where relief could not reach due to inaccessibility and soon aid would be delivered following an improvement in weather conditions. On the occasion, Chief Minister Hoti said Swat was fast recovering from the effects of militancy but the floods had pushed the region 50 years back in terms of development.
