Audit of flood relief funds

Due to the flood disasters, the loss of life and property in a large part of the country has not yet been estimated and this work may take several more months, but it is a welcome thing that the friendliest countries in this difficult time are helping Pakistan. Countries, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, China, Turkey, Qatar, the USA and the UK, have sent aid to Pakistan and are sending some. Apart from this, many international organizations and companies have also given assistance to Pakistan for the rehabilitation of the victims. UN subsidiaries have stepped up their response to the devastating floods in Pakistan and renewed calls for more funding to reach the more than 3 million children who are in dire need of aid. The government should spend the sum responsibly.  This is the right of the people to know about the funds coming from abroad in the national treasury. It is the state, not the party that has to be returned, so the public should know how much the money is, where it has been spent and when and how it will be returned. Shehbaz Sharif has taken a step in the right direction by announcing the audit of the Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund, now he should bring together all the stakeholders to legislate in this regard that every government in the future should check all types of funds taken from abroad. It will provide complete information to the public about the funds. Similarly, several charities have stepped in the relief work, which must be appreciated, but the flurry of the ongoing charity campaigns must be scrutinized and spent responsibly. There must be a governmental body which oversees the working of these bodies. PTI Chairman Imran Khan, who held an Rs500 million telethon last week, has also offered an audit of the funds. Moreover, the government needs to create a coordinated work mechanism to facilitate more and more flood-hit people effectively. Right now, complaints are rife that aid has not reached all flood victims despite a large-scale fund collection activity across Pakistan.