Talking to a delegation of UAE Red Crescent, Prime Minister Gilani said priority of his government was to provide shelter and housing to the dislocated people, reconstruct damaged schools, hospitals, farm to market roads and restore damaged bridges and railway tracks in the affected areas.
He said the international community, particularly close friends of Pakistan like UAE, will have to come forward to take part in the rehabilitation and reconstruction phases.
The Prime Minister apprised the UAE Red Crescent Society delegation of the massive destruction caused by the floods and the measures undertaken by his government for helping the displaced.
He said the first tranche of Rs 20,000 per family was being distributed in a transparent and judicious way, while the second tranche of Rs 80,000 will be disbursed in the near future.
He said he would soon be chairing the meeting of the Council of Common Interests in this regard.
Prime Minister Gilani reaffirmed that the government was committed to ensure transparency in disbursement of assistance received from abroad. He said the National Oversight Disaster Management Council comprising experienced civil servants and former members of judiciary of high repute would be working voluntarily to monitor the process, while a website has been setup showing the donations received and their utilisation.
The Prime Minister hoped that international community will focus on the immediate needs of provision of winter tents to the flood affected as the winter season was due to set in soon. He said tents would be procured locally as it was the most economical arrangement.
He asked the UAE delegation to convey his gratitude to the President, Crown Prince, Prime Minister of UAE and the people for their generous help.
The UAE delegation comprised Chairman of the Board of Directors of UAE Red Crescent Society Ahmad Hameed Al-Mazrouie and Secretary General, UAE Red Crescent Mohammad Khalifa Al-Qamzi, Member of the Board Dr Hamdan Musalam Al-Mazrouie, UAE Special Envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Ali Al-Shamsi, and UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Ali Saif Al-Awani.
The head of the UAE delegation conveyed sympathies on behalf of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, President of UAE and assured support and assistance in this hour of need.
Pakistan and UAE relations, he said, were historic and time tested and UAE wants to be on the frontline to help Pakistan in the rehabilitation and reconstruction phases in the flood affected areas.
He said the purpose of the visit was to gain first hand knowledge of the disaster and listen to the people dealing with the catastrophe. He said he has already visited different flood affected areas to supervise the assistance already undertaken by the UAE Red Crescent.
He requested that plans for rehabilitation and reconstruction when finalised after the Damage Need Assessment be shared with UAE. — APP
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