By Muhammad Hammad
The Finance Department of Sindh on Tuesday agreed to release Rs480 million as a special grant-in-aid for the procurement of fogging machines for 23 flood-hit districts.
According to sources, the funds have been placed at the disposal of the Local Government Department secretary for further disbursement.
Dadu city, one of the worst-affected areas by floods, would be given Rs20 million, while Badin, Ghotki, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Jacobabad, Kashmor Kandhkot, Khairpur, Larkana, Matiari, Naushero Feroz, Shaheed Benazirabad, Kamber Shahdadkot, Sanghar, Shikarpur, Sukkar, Tando Allahyar, Thatta, Umerkot, Sujjawal, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tharparkar and Malir would also be given Rs20 million each. A lack of funds for Karachi division has unleashed a torrent of criticism against the Sindh government. Many Karachiites have declared it an injustice to the port city.
However, the Sindh government and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader argue that floods have not caused damage on a massive scale in Karachi, whereas over three million acres in parts of interior Sindh have been inundated, rendering millions of people homeless.
“The specter of an outbreak of diseases is also looming large over the flood victims residing in camps and shelter houses in rural areas of Sindh. Most of the deaths, injuries and infrastructure loss to the tune of around S10 billion were also reported from rural areas of the province.
“It is unfortunate that some elements of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) are exploiting the situation for political gains. They should come and see how lives have been shattered by floods and rains in Khairpur Nathan Shah, Johi, Dadu, Mirpur Khas and other areas of interior Sindh,” a PPP leader, wishing not to be named, told this scribe.
