ISLAMABAD, Aug 30: The National Assembly was told here on Friday that the detailed assessment and survey of losses and damages due to recent rains in the country was yet to be completed by the provincial governments.
Minister Incharge of the Cabinet Division Raza Hayat Hiraj while replying to a question of Fazale Subhan said the information so far received from the provincial governments suggested that 225 persons died and 250,883 houses were damaged during the floods in Sindh while 49 persons were killed in Balochistan and 29,995 houses were damaged whereas 16 persons were killed in Punjab and 926 houses were damaged. In the NWFP, 16 persons were killed and 3,710 houses were damaged.
About the steps taken by the government in connection with rescue and rehabilitation, he said Rs100 million each were provided to the governments of Sindh and Balochistan while an appeal was made to the national and international community for donations.
The cabinet division has also provided 990 tents, 6,200 blankets, 180 cartons of medicines and 250 packets of food items (25 kgs each) to Balochistan in addition to one helicopter loaded with life saving drugs while another helicopter of the cabinet division was used for rescue and relief operations from July 21-28, 2003.
In Sindh, 500 tents were provided in addition to 1,500 blankets, 3,150 packets of food items (25 kgs each) and a helicopter of the cabinet division for relief operations.
B CASE WITHDRAWAL: The government on Friday said a case registered against ruling party lawmaker Tahira Asif for attacking policemen at the GT road would be withdrawan. The policemen had stopped her vehicle for violating the traffic rules.
Responding to a privilege motion moved by the MNA from Lahore, Ms Tahira Asif, Federal Minister for Communication Ahmed Ali assured the MNA that the FIR registered by the police would be withdrawn.
The minister assured her that he would look into her complaint in which she had alleged that she had been threatened that in case she did not withdraw her privilege motion, it would not be good for her and her husband.
According to the FIR, registered on July 15, when the car of MNA was intercepted for lane violation, she along with her husband, who is a deputy superintendent in the Customs Intelligence attacked the police officer.
According to police the MNA was infuriated by the fact that a sitting MNA was being stopped for traffic violation by the police.
Ms Tahira Asif claimed she received threats from some unknown persons, forcing her to withdraw her privilege motion against the Motorway Police.
The minister said he had ordered withdrawal of an FIR against the woman member and also assured her that he would take up the matter with the officials of the Motorway Police.
After the assurance of the federal minister, she deferred the privilege motion till next Tuesday.