DADU: President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday called for extensive measures to help people in their time of distress and displacement.

Talking to reporters at a relief camp set up in Government Pilot High School in Sakrand, Nawabshah district, he said Sindh had suffered massive losses due to the devastating rains and flash floods. That was probably the biggest flood in the history of Sindh with huge losses of entire crops, he added.

He pointed out that the rains and floods had also caused devastation in Balochistan, KPK and Punjab, but the level of catastrophe was far bigger in Sindh.

The president said the government was tirelessly working for the rescue and relief of the affected people who were also being helped through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).

He said the country had never witnessed devastation on such a massive scale and the government could not cope with the situation single-handedly. He urged the international community to come forward for help to the affected people.

He called upon the well-off people of Karachi and other parts of the country to come forward for the help and rehabilitation of the flood victims.

The president asked the government to take extensive measures for providing relief, shelter, education and health services to the affected population.

He said the floods had played havoc with millions of acres of farm lands besides destroying hundreds of thousands of houses.

The president observed that the climate change and the rising global temperatures paved the way for the massive floods in Pakistan. Pakistan contributed minimally to the enhancing temperatures, but it was among the top affected in the countries of the world, he added.

He underlined the need of taking immediate and effective steps to check the adverse effects on the climate.

The president also interacted with the people at the camp and enquired about the facilities being provided to them.

The Dadu administration briefed the president about the rains, floods, displacement, losses and relief measures. He was apprised that crops cultivated on 247,000 acres had been destroyed.

The president announced Rs 50 million funds for the flood victims of Dadu district.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2022