Centre to help families hit by snowfall: Firdous
QUETTA: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has said that the federal government would pay compensation to the families affected by recent heavy snowfall and rains in Balochistan.
Talking to reporters at the Quetta airport on Wednesday on her arrival on a two-day visit to Balochistan, she said Prime Minister Imran Khan was very much concerned about development and progress of the province.
She said PM Khan was taking all steps to resolve the problems being faced by the people of Balochistan.
“I have been asked by the prime minister to visit calamity-hit areas of Balochistan,” she said and expressed her grief over loss of precious lives in recent snowfall and torrential rains.
Dr Awan said that the prime minister had directed the National Disaster Management Authority to extend all possible support to the Balochistan government in relief and rescue operations.
She said the federal government was extending all help, including financial assistance, to the Balochistan government for speedy development of the province.
In reply to a question about Prime Minister Khan’s meeting with US President Trump in Davos, she said Mr Trump had once again offered to mediate between Pakistan and India on Kashmir issue.
“President Trump offered to play his role as a mediator on the Kashmir issue because the Indian troops can’t suppress the voice of innocent Kashmir people.”
Later, Dr Awan met Balochistan Governor retired Justice Amanullah Khan Yasinzai at Governor House.
They discussed the rescue and relief operation in the areas affected by heavy snowfall, progress on development projects, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, measures taken for the maintenance of peace and order in the province.
The PM’s special assistant also met Director of the Press Information Department, Quetta, Abdul Manan, General Manager of the Pakistan Television Corporation, Quetta Centre, Mohammad Ayub Babai, Station Director of Radio Pakistan Sohail Jaffar and Quetta Bureau Chief of the Associated Press of Pakistan Mohammad Nazar Jamali.
She lauded the sacrifices of journalists of Balochistan and promised to resolve their problems.
Provincial ministers, Deputy Speaker of the Balochistan Assembly Babar Khan Musakhail, MPA Mubeen Khilji, Khadim Hussain Wardag and senior government officials received Dr Awan at the airport.
Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2020