QUETTA: Balochistan Agriculture Minister Mir Asadullah Baloch on Friday rejected the Rs10 billion grant announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the rehabilitation of flood victims in the province.

Speaking at a ceremony, he said according to initial assessments, the province has already suffered financial losses of over 200 billion as entire communication infrastructure and agriculture was destroyed by torrential rains and heavy floods.

This grant was nothing compared to the level of destruction in the province, he lamented.

Criticising the grant announced by the prime minister, Mr Baloch said if philanthropists in Balochistan donate to help the victims, that amount alone will exceed Rs100b.

“The federal and provincial governments should be on one page to meet the challenge of rehabilitation,” he said, adding that around 1.3m people have become homeless.

Acres of rice, onion, tomatoes, barley crops and several fruit orchards have been washed away which would increase poverty and unemployment in the province, the minister said.

Mr Baloch suggested the provincial government to hold a donor conference in Islamabad to secure aid from national and international bodies.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2022