HYDERABAD, July 13: A meeting held here on Saturday decided that the compensation would be paid to families of those killed in rain-related incidents and other affected people.

The meeting was presided over by Sindh Auqaf, Zakat, Ushr and Religious and Minority Affairs Minister Dr Irfan Gul Magsi and attended by MNA Syed Jalal Shah Jamote, MPA Syed Arshad Shah, MPA Syed Apa Farzana and other elected representatives.

The meeting took stock of losses caused by the recent rains in Hyderabad.

The meeting was informed that three people had died in Hyderabad and one on the outskirts of the city in rain-related incidents.

It was told that 200 people were also injured and many houses were destroyed.

A five-member committee was appointed to conduct a survey of damages and submit a report to the government.

Dr Magsi informed the meeting that recommendations had already been submitted to the government to sanction Rs15.5 million for rehabilitation of the affected people. He hoped this amount would be released in one week.

Another committee was constituted to distribute funds among the affected people and supervise the rehabilitation work.

Meanwhile, Dr Magsi inaugurated a minorities directorate office at the Shahbaz Building here on Saturday to resolve problems of the minorities.

Speaking on the occasion, the Sindh minister said the government was taking interest in resolving minorities’ problems.

He said it was in furtherance of this objective that the directorate was established.

He said the directorate would make efforts to provide the minorities with education and health facilities and look after their worship places.

WASA: The Water and Sanitation Agency, Hyderabad, has extended the last date for payment of water bills up to July 19.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, Wasa recovery coordinator Shaukat Hayat Bhutto said the package of 10 per cent rebate on payment of arrears in one instalment had further been extended for one month.

BUILDINGS: The buildings control department, Hyderabad Development Authority, here on Saturday announced that it had established an emergency centre to register information about fragile buildings.