PESHAWAR: The leaders of various political parties have mourned the loss to public life and property caused by floods in Chitral and urged the government to ensure provision of relief goods and shelter to displaced families.

In a joint statement issued here on Monday, former PPP provincial president Rahimdad Khan, general secretary Humayun Khan expressed concern about the delay in provision of relief items to calamity-hit areas and said both federal and provincial governments should play their constitutional role by helping the people in distress.

They also directed party workers to take part in rescue and relief work in Chitral.

The PPP leaders said the families displaced by floods faced serious problems and therefore, it was the duty of the government to make proper arrangements for their shifting to safer places.

Political parties also ask workers to take part in rescue, relief work

They also called for provision of medicines, ration and other items to the flood-hit families before proper compensation for their losses.

PML-N senior vice president Engineer Amir Muqam also asked party workers to help the disaster-affected families return to normal.

He also asked the provincial government to take immediate steps for the welfare of Chitral’s people in trouble.

The PML-N leader said it was unfortunate that the PTI-led provincial government had never taken serious steps for rescue and relief of the flooding-hit people.

He said the federal government was well aware of the flood situation in Chitral and would support the people hit by the natural calamity.

Mr. Muqam said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had approved huge funds for the Chitral people, who suffered huge losses in the 2005 flash floods, and would continue doing so.

He asked the ruling PTI’s chairman, Imran Khan, to come forward to ensure help for the people in distress.

“Currently, the PTI rules Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and therefore, it is duty bound to serve the local residents, especially in crisis,” he said.

Also, the Awami National Party asked the federal and provincial governments to start damages need assessment survey in the flood-hit areas of Chitral district and provide relief assistance to the affected people.

In a statement issued here, ANP provincial general secretary Sardar Hussain Babak expressed concern about the loss of innocent lives in flash floods. He said the scope of disaster in Ursoon village near the Afghan border was very vast but the provincial government had announced just Rs15 million, which was inadequate.

“This is ridiculous to release few millions cash assistance,” he said, adding that the government and people should help their brothers and sisters in crisis.

Mr. Babak said the federal and provincial governments should begin extensive relief and recovery operations in the area immediately.

Also in the day, ANP joint secretary Khadeja Sardar urged the government to expedite relief operation in the flood-affected areas of Chitral.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2016