Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reached Quetta on Monday to oversee relief and rescue operations in the flood-affected areas of the province.
The PM sought action against relevant officials over alleged non-provision of food and water at relief camps.
PM Shehbaz Sharif, while speaking to media at Qila Saifullah, said that people had told him that they were not provided with food and water in camps and they had to arrange it themselves.
The premier said that immediate action should be taken against the relevant administration. He said that the chief minister of Balochistan had assured initiation of action against those concerned.
Balochistan CM Bizenjo directed the chief secretary of Balochistan to suspend the officials concerned including the relevant deputy commissioner, tehsildar, PDMA in-charge and relevant team.
During the past 24 hours, nine more people lost their lives in incidents related to rain, putting the total death toll since June 1 to 136. A total of 13,535 houses have been damaged since June 1, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
On his one-day visit, the PM was accompanied by Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Narcotics Control Minister Shahzain Bugti, Defence Production Minister Israr Tareen, Housing and Works Minister Maulana Abdul Wasay, Minister of State for Energy Mohammad Hashim Notezai, Salahuddin Ayubi and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt. Gen. Akhtar Nawaz.
NDMA chairman gave a briefing to the PM regarding the ongoing activities of relief and rescue. After landing in Quetta, a detailed briefing was also given to the premier by NDMA officials.
According to reports, directions were given for immediate disbursement of financial assistance to the families of the people who lost their lives in the floods and rains. The PM also announced the financial assistance to individuals whose houses were damaged by the rain, increasing it to Rs500,000.
Shehbaz Sharif also directed to increase the number of medical camps in flood-affected areas for the purpose of providing timely medical assistance. He assured that both federal and provincial governments were committed to rehabilitating every flood and rain affected person in Balochistan.
The PM also visited a tent city set up in Qila Saifullah. He was accompanied by Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo. The PM was told that in Balochistan, four relief camps had been set up at Qila Saifullah, Quetta, Kech and Lasbela.
Shehbaz Sharif was also told in a briefing that in the third phase of relief operation, the damages to livestock and crops would be assessed after a survey.
This was the second trip of the premier to the province in a week to oversee relief efforts. In his first visit on Saturday, he had assured all possible help for the flood victims.
According to the PDMA, 136 people have lost their lives in Balochistan since June 1, while 70 have been injured. Several roads and bridges were washed away by floods. A bridge connecting Lasbela and Sindh, which was damaged seven days ago, had not yet been repaired. Roads linking Quetta to Ziarat, Chaman and Sibi were also affected by rains.
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