QUETTA, July 23: The Balochistan Disaster Management Authority has been established and Islamabad has so far given Rs600 million for providing immediate relief to people affected by recent floods.

A meeting was held here under the Chief Secretary, K. B Rind, that reviewed the flood situation and the ongoing relief operation. Various decisions, including the one for initiating rehabilitation drive, were also taken.

Chief Secretary said that disaster management authorities were also being set up at the district level and district nazims would head the district DMAs.

He said that the provincial government had started rehabilitation efforts and DCOs had been given Rs450 million for distribution among affected families.

The army, FC, police and district governments had rescued over 51,000 people during rescue operations, he said. According to him, the FC had saved the lives of about 30,000 people. He said that the army, FC, police and district administration officials were also engaged in distributing relief aid, which included goods sent by Iran, Turkey, the UAE and Japan.

The meeting was informed that floods had destroyed crops over 600,000 acres of land while 4,507 water supply sources had been destroyed.

The meeting was attended by the Inspector-General of Police, Tariq Masood Khosa, Brig Waqar Ahmed of the Southern Command, officials of Quetta Electricity Supply Company, Utility Stores and other officials concerned.