August 08, 2008	Friday	Sha’aban 5, 1429

PESHAWAR, Aug 7: The provincial government on Thursday constituted a committee to devise a strategy for removing encroachments, which were the main cause of the massive destructions during the recent flash floods.

NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti said Senior Minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour would head the committee that would take effective measures to remove encroachments.

Talking to members of the provincial assembly at his office, Mr Hoti said damages to the tune of Rs5 billion had been caused to different infrastructures.

For quick and maximum delivery of relief to flood-affected families, he said, some of the affected localities would be declared calamity-hit areas after completion of a survey report.

He directed MPAs to keep close contacts with the affected families of their respective areas and play their role in the relief and rehabilitation process. He said relief should reach every affected person and warned against any negligence in this regard.

The chief minister asked provincial lawmakers to actively participate in the fund raising campaign of the provincial government.

Mr Hoti said Rs100,000 and Rs50,000, respectively, had been approved for successors of those killed and wounded in the floods, and directed officials concerned to ensure disbursement of the compensation amounts within three days though a transparent manner. He added that nothing could compensate the families who had lost their beloved ones, but the amount announced by the government was a gesture of sympathy with the bereaved families.

He asked the affected families to contact the officials concerned for receiving the compensation amount.

The chief minister said nearly 25,000 families had been affected by the floods.

He said relief goods, including rice, ghee, pulses, sugar, tea, tents, medicines and blankets, had been provided to various relief camps.

He said Rs50 million had been issued to the relief commissioner for rehabilitation of the affected people, adding Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had also assured support to the provincial government in its efforts to mitigate the sufferings of the people.

In addition, he said, the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund had been established and its accounts had been opened in branches of various banks to raise funds for the affected people.

He appealed to national and international welfare organisations and philanthropists to come forward and show generosity in this regard.

He further said relief camps had been set up in Regi, Badezi, Habib Gul Korona, Patwar Bala, Patwar Payan, Khandarkheil, Maskinabad, Char Pariza, Nishath Mills, FG Colony and Kankola with 100 tents in each camp, where medical teams had started working. Mr Hoti said the affected families were being provided with medicines, food and clean drinking water in the camps, adding 12 mobile and 12 fixed teams of doctors and paramedical staffs had been formed, who had started their activities.

He directed the quarters concerned to make arrangements for removing debris on roads and asked Peshawar Electric Supply Company officials to ensure power supply to the affected areas.

The chief minister expressed the hope that relief from the federal government would reach soon.

He also directed the DCO of Peshawar to ensure early rehabilitation of the affected Christian families in the Hassan Garhi area, adding no effort should be spared in providing relief to the minority people.

Meanwhile, officials of Chief Minister’s Secretariat have announced their one-day salaries for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to be given to the affected people.

The chief minister has hailed the spirit and the decision of the workers and urged other government officials to follow in their footsteps.