ISLAMABAD: The National Flood Response Coordination Centre (NFRCC) on Monday deliberated upon a free wheat seed distribution mechanism in flood-hit areas.

The NFRCC held a meeting which was chaired by NDMA ChairmanLieutenant General Akhter Nawaz and co-chaired by national coordinator NFRCC Major General Zafar Iqbal. It was also attended by officials of provinces for implementation of the seed distribution mechanism.

The meeting was told that the seed distribution committee of all districts would comprise officials of the district administration, federal and provincial governments and the NDMA.

The meeting was informed about the ground conditions of the farmers in the flood-affected agricultural land.

Plans were based on the earlier decision that 50 per cent of wheat seeds would be sponsored by the federal government while the remaining would be borne by the respective provinces.

The federal food secretary informed the meeting about the seed procurement and its distribution mechanism.

Based on the UN statistics, 84 districts across the country have been notified as ‘calamity hit’, including 23 in Balochistan, 21 in Sindh, 17 in KP.

Model villages have been set up where amenities would be provided with each cluster of houses that comprising mosque, basic health units along with other facilities.

The meeting was briefed about the residential unit layout options of model houses where space for livestock would also be incorporated.

Meanwhile, with the target to reach out to 500,000 flood victims, the Dawoodi Bohra community has provided aid to 300,000 victims in coordination with army.

The campaign is being funded by the members of Dawoodi Bohra community to continue help rehabilitate thousands of displaced people. Under the banner of project rise, the community has resolved to touch at least 500,000 people’s lives and give them a chance to restart their lives.

Over 300,000 flood victims have been provided with dry ration, cooked food and medicines across various cities of Pakistan by the community in collaboration with the army. The community said the delivery of aid and sustenance goods, including waterproof tents, linen sheets, clean drinking water, dry eatables like ready-to-eat black channa, dates and biscuits, was underway.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2022