QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo said on Sunday that the province needs financial support to redevelop infrastructure damaged by recent rains and floods.

Talking to media after visiting headquarters of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Balochistan, here he said that Chief Secretary Abdul Aziz Aquili and the Chief Minister Inspection Team (CMIT) have been assigned to assess damages to dams in recent rains and floods in different areas of the province. If the investigation finds that sub-standard material was used in the construction of dams, action would be taken against all those people who were involved in it, Mr Bizenjo said.

The chief minister said those found involved in sub-standard construction of dams after completion of the investigation would be brought to justice. The provincial government would not tolerate negligence and wastage of development funds, he added.

He said the damage to dams during recent rains is a very serious issue for the government and it would not tolerate any negligence on the part of officials in their construction.

Inspection team assigned to assess damage to dams by recent rains in different areas of province

He said during ongoing monsoon rains and flash floods many people have lost their lives and the province suffered huge financial losses as highways, dams and crops were damaged. The province is already facing financial difficulties and losses from recent rains have been estimated in billions of rupees, he added.

He said he has approached Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and apprised him about the situation in the province, adding that the prime minister has been requested him to provide maximum funds to the province for relief and rehabilitation of rain-affected areas of the province.

The chief minister said the provincial government is providing relief to the rain-affected people in terms of rations, tents and other facilities. The provincial government needs financial help to redevelop infrastructure damaged by recent rains, he added.

PDMA Director General Naseer Ahmed Nasar briefed the chief minister and chief secretary on relief and rescue operations launched by PDMA in rain-affected areas.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2022