ISLAMABAD: “A 100 billion Rupees are required to provide financial assistance and reconstruct houses of people who were had to leave their homes as a result of operation Zarb-e-Azb” said Minister for State and foreign regions (Safron) Abdul Qadir Baloch.

The minister was briefing parliamentarians during special meeting held on Thursday to discuss the numerous problems faced by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Representatives from most political parties participated in the meeting held on the direction of National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.

Mr Baloch said in the past Pakistanis helped their brothers in times of need, but the aid given by people to IDPs has been little.

“I believe that media is responsible because it gave all the attention to political sit-ins and public meetings ignoring the issue of IDPs,” he said.

He said business tycoon Malik Riaz announced that he would give Rs 5 billion for the IDPs but did not pay the money. However he sent some goods for the IDPs.

Parliamentarians were informed that federal government had dispersed Rs 3866 million to IDPs till November 17. Punjab government provided Rs 772 million and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government provided Rs 654 million.

However, 1900 cases have been detected in which payments were made to non deserving people.

Member of National Assembly (MNA) Syed Ghazi Gulab said that IDPs problems must be resolved immediately, otherwise we face the risk of having young people radicalised.

“Rs 40 billion are being spent on Metro Bus Project in Islamabad but the government does not have funds for the IDPs, who have sacrificed their life and property for the country,” he said.

He added that the IDPs do not have graveyards which makes burial a big problem in case there is death in the camps.

“After the bomb blast in Hangu camp, IDPs have been demanding barbed wires around the camp but no one is ready to listen to them,” he said.

He appreciated the decision of the ministry of Safron to have international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) to hire Pakistanis for relief activities.

MNA Mahmood Khan Achakzai said that thousands of persons have been killed because of terrorism so a detailed meeting should be held on this issue.

“People of Bara should get the same package which is being given to IDPs of South Waziristan,” said MNA Shah Jee.

While MNA Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said that speaker should establish a special committee to discuss the issue of IDPs.

He said that parliamentarians should donate their salaries for the relief of IDPs.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2014