During the current monsoon season, torrential rains have caused massive flooding in rivers and streams, causing immense loss of life and property, as well as in other parts of the country, in the snowy and mountainous areas of Gilgit and Baltistan. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, along with the relevant ministers of the federal cabinet, visited Gilgit at the first opportunity to assess the actual situation on the spot. He took a detailed briefing from the governor, the chief minister, and local authorities; met the victims and expressed condolences to the bereaved families; distributed relief checks among them; and issued necessary instructions to the authorities to improve the situation.
He
announced a fund of Rs 4 billion for the restoration of infrastructure
destroyed by the rains and floods and directed the Ministry of Climate Change
to bring an international fund for the areas affected by floods and other
natural disasters. Addressing a ceremony and meeting to distribute relief
checks to the victims on this occasion, he directed them to be prepared at all times
to deal with natural disasters and to inform people about the dangers in
advance. He said that Pakistan is among the ten countries most affected by
climate change, and the federal and provincial governments should realize their
responsibilities in this regard.
The
Prime Minister distributed relief checks of Rs. 10 million each to those who
died in the rains and floods, while relief funds ranging from Rs. 2 to 5 lakh
were distributed to the injured. Expressing solidarity with the affected
people, the Prime Minister emphasized the existence of the Advance Warning
System, which is a very dynamic and active system for early warning to combat
natural disasters, and said that this system has been running only on paper for
seven years.
No
work has been done in practice. The time now set for its implementation will
not be increased by even a day or an hour. The management of funds for this
will also be the responsibility of the relevant authorities. He also announced
the formation of a committee to resolve the problems of Gilgit-Baltistan and
said that the opinion of the Governor and the Chief Minister will also be taken
in this regard. He directed that the work of restoring the roads damaged by
rains and floods be done on a priority basis. It is a big center of tourism where
people who are fond of mountaineering come from home and abroad every year.
And
it is a major source of national income. In this context, there is a need to
pay immediate attention to this area. Especially because glaciers are melting
on the high mountains due to climate change, as a result of which recreational
places are facing dangers. The government has directed the National Disaster
Management Authority to complete the early warning system within two months
under the requirements of the current situation. In addition, people living
near waterways have been asked to shift to safer places. Torrential rains and
floods are the norm here. During this time, important tourist destinations,
including Guzar, are cut off from other areas. In this situation, the early
warning system ordered by the Prime Minister is very important to avoid loss of
life and property of people, but despite clear orders, it could not be
organized due to the traditional negligence of the bureaucracy. It is necessary
that effective steps be initiated in this regard immediately without wasting
time.
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