July 29, 2003	Tuesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 28, 1424

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QUETTA, July 28: The Balochistan government has launched a relief operation in the 21 districts hit by heavy rains and allocated special funds for the people affected in the natural calamity.

A special meeting of the provincial cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf was held here on Monday evening in this regard.

Earlier, the speaker of the Balochistan assembly, Jamal Shah, had prorogued the session requisitioned by the

opposition members owing to rains in various areas of the province.

The cabinet reviewed the situation created by the heavy rains, losses and the relief operation launched for the rehabilitation of the victims.

The meeting was informed that 21 out of the 26 districts of Balochistan were affected in heavy rains which also damaged standing crops. The heavy downfall had badly hit various bridges and parts of road suspending vehicular traffic between different cities and towns of the province.

The chief minister on the occasion directed the officials concerned to prepare a report regarding losses to the flood-affected people of the province so that proper steps could be taken for their rehabilitation.

He also issued directives for paying special attention to the provision of food, medicines and other facilities to the affected people, besides the restoration of communication systems in the affected areas.

The chief minister said information centres should be established on district level for proper and prompt information about the flood situation and damages.

The cabinet decided to provide 1,000 bulldozer to the DCOs of the affected district for relief works in their respective districts.

The chief minister and the provincial ministers would soon visit the affected areas to review the relief works and assess financial losses. The federal government and donor agencies would also be contacted for extending help in the relief activities, the meeting decided.