QUETTA: Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Dr Zafar Iqbal Qadir has said there is no ban on local non-governmental organisations working in flood-hit areas of Balochistan.

Addressing a news conference at Quetta Press Club and later talking to APP on Friday, he said “We have not imposed ban on local NGOs of initiating relief work in flood-stricken districts of Balochistan,” adding that however, foreign donor agencies and NGOs would have to get permission from NDMA and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in this regard. Director General PDMA, Tahir Munir Menhas was also present on this occasion.

The NDMA chief said that if foreign donor agencies and NGOs wanted to carryout relief work in flood-hit districts of Balochistan including Jaffarabad, Nasirabad, Jhal Magsi and others, then they would have to get permission from NDMA and PDMA in this connection.

He added that after getting approval from the relevant government authorities, foreign donors and NGOs could distribute the relief goods which already available in their stock adding that however, NDMA and PDMA would devise plan, under which the foreign donors and NGOs would be given areas to distribute relief goods.

Qadir said that so far, the federal government has distributed 115,000 tons of rations in three flood-affected districts of Balochistan including Jaffarabad, Nasirabad and Jhal Magsi.

He said that 3500 ration bags, of which each bag weighed 37 kg and enough for a family for one month have been distributed and more ration bags were also being distributed. He noted that 74,000 tons of rations have been transported to Shehdadkot which would also be distributed in flood-hit areas.

“Rs 1 billion will be incurred for economical revival of flood victims of eastern parts of Balochistan and another amount of Rs 1 billion for rebuilding of infrastructure badly damaged by gushing flash floods in Jaffarabad, Nasirabad and Jhal Magsi district,” he said adding that Rs 200 million for each district of these three districts were being spent for provision of food.

He said that Rs 400,000 would be given to each family, of whom beloved one died in flash flood.

He said that huge area of Nasirabad and Jaffarabad districts was inundated by flash flood while three union councils of Jhal Magsi district including Kot Magsi, Barija and Saifabad were badly affected by flash flood.        He said that about 35 casualties have been reported in flood-hit areas of eastern Balochistan. He mentioned that flash floods had caused occurrence of 1295 breaches in canals and rainwater nullahs in eastern Balochistan.

The NDMA chairman while referring to scientific research said that monsoon rains have changed their timings and areas. “In past, monsoon rains used to lash upper Punjab and Kashmir in months of June and July but this year, heavy downpours lashed in Koh Suleman and eastern parts of Balochistan with changing their timing from June and July to end of August to mid of September,” he said.

He revealed that annual average rainfall of Jaffarabad, Jacobabad and Kashmore areas was 120 mm but this year, they lashed 480 mm within 36 hours, triggering flash floods that played havoc in these areas. He added that Tharparker and Badin received 280 mm and 300 mm rainfall respectively within 24 hours against its past record of total rainfall that was 32 mm during the whole year.

“Now we will have to change timing of crop sowing in flood-hit areas of Balochistan and Sindh besides replacing the species of crops. He said that Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has been taking personal interest for rehabilitation of flood-hit people of Balochistan besides giving adequate funds to carryout relief operation and rebuilding of damaged infrastructure.

He feared that global climate change that affecting Pakistan, India, China, Nepal and Bhutan might cause more torrential monsoon rains in next few years adding therefore we were finalising the effective and comprehensive plan of disaster management.

He said that although after passage of 18th Amendment and devolution process, disaster management was a provincial subject adding that however, NDMA has been fully backing PDMA in Balochistan for relief work.

He said that besides assisting PDMA, the NDMA has given 3800 tents in Nasirabad, 2500 in Jacobabad and 6000 in Sukkur while 10,000 more tents are in pipeline. He added that we are also assisting PDMA in supply of medicines to the flood-hit areas.