Indonesia Helps

Indonesian socialite donates Rp 50 mln for flood victims

ISLAMABAD, Sep- Prominent Pakistan-origin Indonesian socialite and medical practitioner Badaruzzaman has presented a cash donation of Indonesian Rp 50 million to Pakistan’s Ambassador to Indonesia Sanaullah for disbursement among the flood affected people , said a message received here on Wednesday.

Badaruzaman, who was accompanied by Chairman Kashmir Solidarity Forum Jakarta Dr. Zahir Khan said he was greatly moved by the plight of millions of Pakistanis who had became victims of natural calamity.
Ambassador Sanaullah lauded the goodwill gesture of Badaruzzaman and said Pakistan needed support from international community in the face of the gigantic challenge posed by wide-scale floods. He briefed him about the latest flood situation in Pakistan.
He said Pakistan was grateful to Indonesian government and philanthropists for their generous support for flood affected people.

PAK ARMY RELIEF

  Pak Army establishes over 300 relief camps for flood victims

ISLAMABAD, Sep - Pakistan Army has established over 300 relief camps across the country for flood affected people and is providing food and medical care to them. According to an ISPR press release issued on Wednesday, Army Engineers plugged the breaches in D.G Khan and now they are busy day and night in plugging the breaches at Tori Bund(dyke) and have completed 70 per cent work.

Army Aviation is actively involved in evacuating the people from flood areas of Sindh and Balochistan. Army has also distributed 12,000 Kg rations in Usta Mohammad, Gandakha and Saif Ullah Canal in Balochistan. While 71 tons of dry rations were distributed in Army Relief Camp at Nowshera donated by Saudi and Kuwaiti Ambassadors Around 97,000 people have gone back to their homes in Rahim Yar Khan.

UAE FEILD HOSPITAL

UAE army relief force field hospital starts functioning in Southern Punjab

 

ISLAMABAD, Sep : The UAE Army Relief Force Field Hospital Wednesday started operating with Pakistan Army in remote flood affected areas of southern Punjab. The field hospital of the UAE government quickly moved to Multan to cover the upper region of Muzaffargarh, Layya etc and to provide health facilities to the flood affected people of this region as no one has yet reached these areas due to no road network.

According to a UAE Embassy press release, the hospital is equipped with latest equipments including ambulances to provide medical facilities to the needy, badly affected by the devastating floods.
The head of the relief force met head of the Logistic Unit of Pakistan Army, Maj. Gen. Jamal and discussed the areas and basic requirements.
Meanwhile, the UAE army relief force will continue its operation during Eid to transport food stuff and other assistance to the flood victims, the press release added.

US HELPS

USAID to help Pak in health, education sectors 

ISLAMABAD, Sept - USAID has pledged that it will assist flood affectees in the areas of health and education.  This promise was made in a meeting between a USAID delegation and Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Sector.

The meeting discussed education and health issues in flood affected areas of Pakistan. The delegation pledged its full support and cooperation in this regard.
Suzanne Olds, a senior delegate of USAID told Shahnaz Wazir Ali that USAID is planning to provide prefabricated schools to ensure an early resumption of the schools education in the affected districts.
She also briefed Shahnaz about their plans and efforts in the health and restoration of healthcare facilities in these areas.
Shahnaz told the delegation that damage to the educational infrastructure is enormous. More than 6.5 million school going children, after losing their homes and everything, are out in the open skies.
Resumption of the schools needs provision of tents, text books and reading and writing materials to the children.
She maintained that after life saving, health is the most important sector that requires immediate attention and focus.
The government has successfully controlled diseases like cholera, malaria and diarrhea and others with the efforts of the Federal Health Ministry and provincial health departments.

ANGELINA JOLIE VISITS PAKISTAN

Angelina Jolie in Pakistan to highlight needs of flood victims

 

ISLAMABAD, Sept 7 : UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie is in Pakistan, highlighting the suffering of millions of flood victims and the need for continuing aid for the displaced. Jolie is visiting flood-hit regions on Tuesday and Wednesday as the personal envoy of UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antinio Guterres.

The Goodwill Ambassador is travelling to affected communities and meeting people involved in the relief efforts.
The award-winning actress last visited the country in November 2005 after a devastating earthquake swept northern Pakistan,according to a UNHCR press release issued here on Tuesday.     
The floods that first hit Pakistan in July have affected millions.
UNHCR has delivered help to almost 750,000 people, but continued flooding in many areas of southern Pakistan is creating new challenges for relief efforts.
“Pakistan remains in the midst of a massive humanitarian crisis as flooding continues across vast areas,” said Mengesha Kebede, UNHCR’s representative to Pakistan.

PM MEETS ARMY CHEIF

PM lauds army’s flood relief activities 

 

ISLAMABAD, Sep 7 : Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday appreciated the role played by the officers and jawans of the armed forces particularly the army in carrying out rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit areas.Talking to Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at the PM House, the Prime Minister especially lauded the timely response of army aviation in rescuing the stranded people in these areas.The Prime Minister said the armed forces have an important role to play in the upcoming phases of reconstruction and rehabilitation in the flood affected areas.

 

The Army Chief briefed the Prime Minister about the relief activities being carried out by the army. He also apprised the Prime Minister about the overall security situation in the country.

Turkey HELPS

 TURKISH FIRST LADY MEETS PM GILLANI

ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said that Pakistan-Turkey strategic ties are based on cultural and religious linkages, and our relations have stood the test of times.The Prime Minister was talking to the First Lady of Turkey, Madam Emina Erdogan, spouse of the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyep Ardogan who came to Pakistan to express Turkish people’s solidarity with their Pakistani brethren at this time of trial and tribulation.

First Lady, Mrs. Fauzia Gilani and Prime Minister’s daughter Syeda Fiza Batool Gilani were also present during the call on at the Prime Minister House on Thursday.
The Prime Minister thanked the First Lady of Turkey for overwhelming support and generous contribution of the Turkish Government and people to assist their Pakistani brethren at these trying times.
He apprised the Turkish delegation of flood damages and difficulties of flood affected people.
The Turkish First Lady said that Pakistan and Turkey are two brotherly countries which have supported each other through thick and thin, testifying strong bonds of close relations both at official and public levels.
She apprised the Prime Minister that all the Turkish institutions including media are engaged in raising funds for the flood affectees of Pakistan.
The meeting was attended by Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister of State for Finance, Begum Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Special Assistant to Prime Minister, Mr. Egemen Bagis, the Minister for European Affairs and Chief Negotiator, Mr. Takin Kuoukali, President Turkish Red Crescent, Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan, Mustafa Babur Hizlan and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mrs. Nargis Sethi.

TURKEY HELPS

  TURKISH FIRST LADY CALLS CHAIRMAN NDMA

ISLAMABAD, Sep 3 : Wife of Turkish Prime Minister Emine Erdogal on Friday called on Chairman National Disaster Management Authority General ® Nadeem Ahmed who briefed her on relief operation carried out in flood affected areas.The Chairman NDMA said that it was the worst ever disaster in the history of the country which hit 79 districts and over 20 million people were affected. He lauded the role of Turkish governnet and International community for their generous help.Chairman NDMA briefed the spouse of Turkish Prime Minister that NDMA has adopted a transparent way of distributing relief goods among flood victims.

“We provide the relief goods to provinces and later provinces provide the stuff to the affected people through proper networks”, he said.The better half of Turkish PM acknowledged the role of NDMA and assured assistance of Turkish Government for the people of Pakistan.

UAE HELPS

UAE's telethon raises over Dh85 million for Pakistan flood victims so far

The Red Crescent Authority's (RCA) telethon has raised over Dh85 million in donations so far to assist the estimated 23 million flood victims in Pakistan.

Dubbed "Awnakum", Arabic for Your Help, the campaign which is under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan saw the participation of various TV channels and radio stations across the UAE such as National Geographic Channel Abu Dhabi, Al-Emarat, Ajman, Noor Dubai, Sharjah 2, Fujairah's Dunia, Ras Al-Khaimah TV and Al-Waha, Awtar, Music Plus, Al-Dhafra.
Deputy Chairman of RCA for Local Affairs Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Hammadi said the telethon continues nationwide and at RCA's branches and offices and we look forward to big donations from nationals and expatriates to further help the Pakistani people in this holy month.
He said the effort is being directly followed up on by H.H Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Western Region and Chairman of RCA. 

UN APPEALS

UN appeals for more helicopters

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme , Josette Sheeran, on Monday announced that the WFP is doubling its own helicopter fleet from five to ten to ensure uninterrupted supply of food to flood-hit people of Pakistan.
Sheeran appealed to the world community to provide more helicopters for the purpose.
According to a statement issued by the WFP, Sheeran is visiting Pakistan on Aug 31 to review the program's relief activities.

Besides traveling to the flood hit areas she will also hold meetings with the chiefs of other UN organisations involved in the relief efforts.
Sheeran said that the devastating flood had cut off many areas but there were still several regions which were accessible via roads.
She said the WFP was finding it hard to provide food to eight lac people stuck in remote areas. "Helicopters were the only way to reach them and we were short of them,"

SAUDIA ARABIA HELPS

  SAUDIA ARABIA TO SET UP TWO FEILD HOSPITALS

KARACHI, Aug 27 : The Saudi Arabian government will setup two field hospitals of 200 beds each for flood victims in the province of Sindh and Punjab during next few days.  “At least 250 Saudi doctors will be deputed at these field hospitals,” said Saudi Ambassador in Pakistan, Abdul Aziz Al-Ghadeer here on Friday.

Talking to before departure for aerial survey of Thatta for setting up field hospital, he said that the hospitals will be equipped with all basic and latest facilities to provide treatment to flood affected people.
The survey team also included few Saudi doctors, defence attache and Lt. Cdr. Logistics Area, Pakistan Army, Brig. Syed Shaukat Ali.
A contingent of 130 Saudis were already engaged in rescue operation jointly with Pakistan Army at Hyderabad while an additional 22 volunteer doctors including male and female will also be arriving in Islamabad soon to provide medical aid, particularly, for female patients.
The ambassador mentioned that Saudi Government had already raised $107 million in cash through public campaign for flood victims.
“People of Saudi Arabia and the government are working shoulder to shoulder to provide relief to our Muslim brethren facing one of the historic natural disaster today,” he said.
He said the Saudi government has also planned to supply 300 tonnes of dates for flood victims during the holy month of Ramazan and a consignment of 100 tonnes has already arrived.
Moreover, the ambassador said that Saudi Prince Walid bin Talat will also visit Pakistan next week alongwith a delegation of top businessmen of the Kingdom to assess the situation of flood in Pakistan.
“The Prince will flew into Multan on Monday for the purpose,” he said.

AZERBAIJAN HELPS

  AZERBAIJAN HELPS US$ 1 MILLION

ISLAMABAD, Aug 27 : Azerbaijan has donated US dollars 1 million additional aid for the flood victims, bringing the total aid to dollars 2 million.The decision has been taken after the special session of the United Nations, The aid is in addition to two aircraft containing humanitarian aid, said a press release issued by Azerbaijan Embassy here on Friday.  Earlier, the Azerbaijan President announced US dollars 1 million for the  flood victims as the immediate relief assistance to Pakistan.  The first aircraft containing food items of 35 tons reached at Chaklala Air Base here on Friday morning which includes clean drinking water and other necessities of life.

Dashgin Shikarov, Charge d’ affaire of Azerbaijan in Pakistan received the humanitarian aid and handed over to Pakistani officials.
Dashgin stated that second air craft would arrive here on Aug 29.
He said that Azerbaijan and Pakistan have historical and cultural relations and these relations are developing in the frame of international and regional organizations such as UN, OIC, ECO etc. 
Pakistan always supports Azerbaijan on Nagorno Karabakh issue and Azerbaijan supported Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir issue, he added.
Both the countries support each other in humanitarian issues.  At the time of 2005 earthquake, Azerbaijan on the directives of Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan allocated $1 million. 
Now once again Pakistan is facing disastrous flood situation and Azerbaijan is one of the first countries which provided its support.

US HELPS

US HELPS USD 200 million

SWAT, Aug 27 : Peshawar based US Consul General Elizabeth H. Rood has said that US Government would provide USD 200 million to Pakistan Government for rehabilitation of the flood victims and reconstruction of the infrastructure damaged due to flash floods.The US helicopters saved 8000 people stranded in the flood hit areas in Swat district and shifted them to safe areas.The US government would continue to help the people of Pakistan in this difficult hour. She was talking to local media men after having aerial view of the flood affected areas and inspection of the Chakdara bridge repaired by the Pakistan army in 21 days time in Malakand agency on Friday.

Elizabeth H. Rood said her government supported Pakistan in war against terror and would continue to help the people affected by the floods in Malakand division as well. She said the 12 ready made bridges have been handed over to the KPK Government.
She assured that the US teams would remain in the area till their presence was necessary. The US Government has provided USD 35 million before the flooding and construction work on 108 schools is in progress.
Brigadier Saeed Ahmed Nagra briefed the US Consul General about the relief and rehabilitation activities underway in the area. She was told that the rains played havoc in lower Swat district as 11 main bridges, 40 percent agriculture crops, over 2000 houses destroyed in the floods. 67 people died and 99 recieved injuries in the lower Swat.
The US Consul General took by surprise every one present when she gave interview in Pashto to a foreign Pashto Radio Channel at Chakdara.  Her Pashto ascent was excellent, commented the interviewer.
The Spokesman for the US Consulate told that the Consul General can speak Pashto very well and there was no need of interpreter.
The US delegation also refused cold drinks due to fasting month of Ramdan and returned the same respecting the Ramadan.

Latest News PM Oders HOSPITAL

PM Orders diarrhoea treatment facility

ISLAMABAD, Aug 27 : Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday directed to convert Railways Hospital Sukkur into a dedicated medical facility for the treatment of patients with acute watery diarrhoea. 

The Prime Minister has taken the step to control outbreak of water-borne diseases in the flood-hit areas, keeping in view the heat and humidity in the south.The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Railways to place the Railways Hospital Sukkur at the disposal of Ministry of Health which in collaboration with the World Health Organization will convert the hospital into a dedicated medical facility for treatment of water born diseases.

The establishment of this facility will create no additional expense, while the existing staff will continue to work in the hospital. 
The Prime Minister has been closely monitoring the health situations in the flood ravaged areas. Chairing a high level meeting to review the health situation in flood-hit areas last week, he directed the Ministry of Health to take on board different NGOs and international health organizations.

Malaysia Help

  MALAYSIA HELPS FLOOD VICTIMS

ISLAMABAD, Aug 27 : Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Razzaq has directed Putra One Malaysia Club to send 50 volunteers to Pakistan next month to complement Pakistan government’s efforts to provide relief to more than 20 million flood victims.  President of Putra One Malaysia Club, Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim informed this to High Commissioner for Pakistan in Malaysia, Masood Kahlid in a meeting held in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

Datuk Abdul Aziz said an advance four-member team was being send to Pakistan on August 26 comprising doctors, logistics experts, guides and a researcher to assess the flood situation, determine the needs of the flood affected persons and make recommendations for an effective relief plan.
He said 37 male and seven female doctors assisted by 10 volunteers will be taking 20 tones of medicines, rice, flour, tents, blankets and mineral water with them.
During their stay in Pakistan, their priority would be to provide food and medical assistance to the flood affected persons in the most affected regions, he added.
Aziz said the team would keep close liaison with Malaysian Red Crescent Society, Pakistan Red Crescent Society and National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan to ensure that the humanitarian assistance was reaches to the most deserving people.
The team will be accompanied by a 10-member media team to cover the flood situation.
The High Commissioner thanked the government, civil society, and general public of Malaysia for providing generous humanitarian assistance in cash and kind.

Students Help

  STUDENTS HELP THROUGH ARMY

KARACHI, Aug 26 : The students of Beaconhouse Schools System Jubilee Campus handed over the flood relief goods for the flood affected people to Pak Army here on Thursday. The truck-load of relief items included mineral water bottles, biscuits, juice packets etc was handed over by the students at the Army Relief Centre.

The Relief Centre staff thanked the students for this noble gesture of assisting the flood victims.
It was also pointed out that Pakistan Army has already established Relief Centre in various parts of Karachi for collection of goods and relief items which are dispatched onward for flood affected people in Sindh.
These centers are functioning at COD near Drigh Road (Telephone No.5606702-5, Transit Camp (Tel No. 5605600), Old Race Course Ground (Tel No. 5602091), Forum near Shon Circle (Tel No. 5604714), Khadda Market near Zamzama DHA (Tel No. 4955605).

ARMY RESCUE

  PAK ARMY RESCUE

KARACHI, Aug 26 : An emergency rescue mission sent by Army helicopters to evacuate people trapped near Sarjani Bund was successfully completed. Dozens of helpless villagers were rescued and brought to safe places and were given first aid medical treatment.An ISPR statement here said that more than 150 families are given rations in Shadadkot and nearby area.As many as 25,000 people were served with cooked meals in Jacobabad, Kashmore, Shadadkot, Qamber, Thatta, Manjhand Boobuk and Qubo Sayed Khan whereas 1,000 people were given medical treatment in affected areas by mobile medical teams of Pakistan Army.

More than 3,000 people rescued from different affected areas to safe places.
Besides above, Corps Commander, Lieutenant General Shahid Iqbal, and GOC Major General Shaukat Iqbal, inspected and analysed the breach at Sarjani Bund on River Indus.
Army engineer troops, machinery and additional troops alongwith vehicles also moved from Hyderabad to plug the breachers and rescue the marooned people.

ANJELINA JOLIE

 ANJELINA JOLIE HELP

ANJELINA JOLIE Helps By contributing $100,000 toward the flood-ravaged victims of Pakistan, Hollywood glam girl Angelina Jolie has overtaken the help extended by most Pakistani politicians, including President Asif Ali Zardari.

Jolie was overcome with emotion at the “compassion fatigue” affecting the flood victims in Pakistan, which made the actor go for such a huge donation to help rescue and relief work. Jolie, who is also a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations, donated from her own pocket and indicated that she might also pay a visit to the country once the media hype was over.
Since July 28, heavy rains have washed away thousands of villages, rendering 1,600 villagers dead while 20 million were rendered homeless throughout the country. In addition, there is widespread fear of epidemics breaking out in the camps where the flood survivors have taken shelter.

PM GILANI ASSURES COMPENSATION

 PM ASSURES DAMAGE COMPENSATIONS PAYMENT SOONEST

HYDERABAD, Aug 25 - Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said that assessment of the losses to the life and property caused by the flood in various parts of the country would be completed in shortest possible time for expediting compensation and rehabilitation of millions of displaced people.He  said   all losses including those of human life,   livestock, property and crop destruction would be assessed shortly so that the flood victims people could get early relief and be rehabilited without any delay.He said this  while talking to newsmen  at the Hyderabad Airport after visiting Hyderabad district on Wednesday . 

The Prime Minister was briefed on the flood situation at the Kotri Barrage as well losses caused by the flood in Kotri Barrage Command area by the officers of the concerned departments at Irrigation Rest House Jamshoro.
The Prime  visited the relief camp at Hyderabad and  took an aerial view of the areas marooned during passage of superflood from different parts of Hyderabad district.
The Prime Minister said that he was visting this place to   review the situation for himself and meet with the members of the Parliament from the area so that a comprehensive strategy could be formed for the benefit of flood victims.
The government has taken urgent steps in flood hit areas by providing rescue and relief to flood victims, he said and added that the affected people have been accommodated in the relief camps where food items, clean drinking water, medicines, tents and other essential goods are still required in large quantity.   
He said the government would take all steps for  the rehabilitation of the flood affected people of the  country .
The Prime Minister said  that the courage of the people  remained high and with the cooperation of the masses, the government would succeed in providing maximum relief  to the victims.
The Prime Minister said that the government had decided to immediately provide initial  grant of Rs. 20,000 to each family of the flood victims  while their complete rehabilitation would be carried out after assessment of losses.
Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that entire world is extending full cooperation to Pakistan and the donation of the world community to flood hit people is beyond the expectations.
He thanked the world community for extending full support to Pakistan in this time of crisis.   
The Prime Minister said that meeting of the Central Executive Committee of Pakistan Peoples Party would be convened to discuss the situation and prepare a comprehensive strategy for providing relief to flood victims.
He also appealed to party workers to help  the flood affected people with national spirit in a disciplined manner in their respective areas.
Responding to a question about the breach in Torri Bund, the Prime Minister said that breaches occurred at the protective bunds in different parts of the country and it is the responsibility of the provincial governments to conduct inquiries to probe into the causes of the breaches in their respective provinces.
Among others, Speaker national Assembly Dr. Fahmida Mirza, Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Federal Trade Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Syed Naveed Qamar, Sindh Home Minister Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza, Sindh Minister for Fisheries Zahid Bhurgari, Sindh Minister for Special Education Syed Ali Nawaz Shah Rizvi, Sindh Minister for Rural Development Zubair Ahmed, MNAs, MPAs and PPP leaders were also present on the occasion

PM GILANI ORDERS

 PM ORDERS CHAIRMAIN PTA

ISLAMABAD, Aug 25 : Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday urged the Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to ensure the reconstruction of telecommunication infrastructure in the flood-hit areas to strengthen the relief activities. The Prime Minister said this while talking to Dr. Muhammad Yaseen, Chairman PTA at PM House.  The PTA Chairman presented the Prime Minister a cheque of Rs 654,468 for Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund.

The Prime Minister appreciated the kind gesture of PTA employees who contributed one day’s salary to help their distressed brethren in flood-hit areas.
The Chairman PTA apprised the Prime Minister of the damage caused to telecom infrastructure in flood affected areas and also various ways devised by PTA for early reconstruction of the network.

KOTRI BARRAGE LATEST NEWS KAIRA

 WATER LEVEL AT KOTRI TO CROSS 9 LAKHS CUSECS MARK : KAIRA

ISLAMABAD, Aug 23 : Federal Minister for Information and & Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said on Monday that presently 8,90,183 cusecs water is flowing through Kotri barrage which may further rise and might cross nine lakh cusecs mark in coming few days. While addressing a press conference on flood situation alongwith Pakistan Baitul Maal Managing Director Zamurrud Khan, and Peoples Labour Bureau head Chaudhry Manzoor, said that it is predicted that after a few days water level at Kotri would fall to 7 to eight lakh cusecs which would continue for seven to eight days.

He said that at Guddu 7,33,000 cusecs and at Sukkur barrage 8,27,000 cusec water is flowing. About the Sutluj river,he said that Indian reservoirs on this river are filled to the capacity and if more rains occur in the catchment areas, India may release water in the river, causing problems for those living in river bank areas.  Kaira said that during next few days there is likelihood of more rains in upper Punjab, Azad Kashmir and Khyber Pukhtunkhwa but these would not be heavy rains.
He said that due to marine high tide at the moment, there is a chance that high flood situation would remain downstream Kotri for next few days. The minister told the media that confirmed death toll is 1539, while 2055 persons have been injured. He said that according to assessment made so far 1226678 houses have been damaged, while 2248 camps and 1657 tent villages have been established in the flood-hit areas.
To a question,he said that so far Rs 1.60 billion  have been deposited in the Prime Minister’s relief fund and this amount does not include the amount being deducted from salaries and the funds collected by Pakistani diplomatic  missions abroad.  About the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), he said that we should not indulge in technicalities. Rather we should look at practicality.
He said that all the estimates about losses were preliminary as no government in the world can make assessment of damage in standing waters.He opined that there was no need for donors conference at the provincial level as the federal government has set up council which would ensure judicious distribution of resources besides transparency.
The Minister said that C-130s from Pakistan,the United States and other friendly countries are participating in the rescue and relief operation.
About the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief statement asking Army generals to take action against corrupt politicians, he said, it is against the constitution. “Democracy in the country had been restored after rendering unmatched sacrifices and the statement of the MQM leader is surprising for us”.He said the government will take up the issue with the MQM.
To a question about the formation of supervisory commission on flood relief and reconstruction activity he said 80 percent of demands of Mian Nawaz Sharif have been accepted by the government in the setting up of National Oversight Disaster Management Council (NODMC).
He further said it was imperative for the government to take all the provinces on board regarding the setting up of commission.  He further said Mian Shahbaz Sharif has not raised any objection over the setting of NODMC.

CM Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani MEETS PRESIDENT ON LATEST FLOOD SITUATION

 CM BALOUCHISTAN BRIEFS PRESIDENT ZARDARI ON FLOOD SITUATION

ISLAMABAD, Aug 23 : Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani, Chief Minister of Balochistan on Monday called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr and apprised him about flood situation in the province. The Chief Minister informed the President about the relief and rehabilitation efforts being undertaken for the flood affected people. The President said all government institutions have been directed to expedite relief operations in the flood affected areas, including Jaffarabad and Nasirabad districts and ensure provision of cooked food and portable drinking water.

LATEST NEWS PM GILLANI MEETS PRESIDENT ZARDARI

 ZARDARI,GILLANI CHAIR MEETING TO REVIEW RELIEF REHABILITATION PLANS

ISLAMABAD, Aug 23 : President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani jointly chaired a high level meeting held Monday night at the Aiwan-e-Sadr to review the various measures undertaken and the plans drawn up by the government in collaboration with all the stakeholders for the relief and rehabilitation of flood victims.The meeting also looked into steps taken for preventing the outbreak of any epidemic in the flood hit areas. The meeting was attended among others by Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Water & Power Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, Secretary General to the President M.  Salman Faruqui, Secretary to the President Malik Asif Hayat, Chairman NDMA Lt Gen® Nadeem Ahmad, Chairman NADRA Ali Arshad Hakeem and Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar.

Briefing the media about the meeting, Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said that the meeting was apprised of the update on flood situation, the extent of devastation, immediate relief measures and the collection and distribution of relief goods among people in areas affected by torrents and floods.
The Spokesperson said that the meeting decided to distribute Rs. 20,000 per family among the flood affectees as initial assistance. The first instalment of Rs. 5000 will be disbursed immediately.  The NDMA was directed to coordinate with NADRA about the preparation of the list of affectees eligible to receive this assistance.
The meeting also decided to dispatch Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi immediately on a visit to the countries of GCC with a letter from the head of the state highlighting the devastation caused by floods and seeking international assistance for meeting the situation.
Farhatullah Babar said that the meeting decided that Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will brief the foreign ministers of the European countries early next month on the flood situation and call upon them to allow market access to Pakistani goods to rejuvenate the industry in the country and create job opportunities.
The Foreign Ministers of European countries will be meeting early next month on September 11 in Brussels, he said.
The meeting also decided to hold a donors conference in Islamabad on the platform of PDF (Pakistan Development Forum). The Foreign Ministry was directed to immediately start preparation for the conference, he said.
The Spokesperson said that the President during the meeting urged for ensuring transparency in all phases of relief and rehabilitation works by all the relevant organisations and agencies busy in relief operations all over the country.
“Transparency in distribution of cash and relief goods among the affectees should be the hallmark of the entire operation right from the initial relief to the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase,” the Spokesperson quoted the President.
Farhatullah Babar said that the Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi briefed the meeting about the UN General Assembly’s special session on Pakistan, his interaction with the world leaders on the sidelines of UNGA’s session and the active response of the world community in support and assistance for the people hit hard by the worst ever floods in Pakistan.
The meeting thanked the United Nations, the international community and the donor agencies for their assistance.

LATEST NEWS RELIEF & RESCUE ZARDARI ORDERS

  PRESIDENT DIRECTS NDMA TO PREPARE FOR NATURAL CLAMITIES

ISLAMABAD, Aug 23 : President Asif Ali Zardari has directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to prepare plans for the future assuming that freak weather causing floods this year could recur in the future.The President asked the NDMA to have a dedicated website that gives complete information about the extent of flood damages, the relief provided, the needs of different afflicted areas and possibly the forecasts for the future.

This he said during a briefing on flood update in the NDMA headquarters, the nerve centre of the relief camps, in the Prime Minister’s Secretariat on Monday. 

The briefing was attended among others by Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Food & Agricultural Minister Nazar Muhammad Gondal, Housing Minister Rehmatullah Kakar, Railways Minister Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, M.  Salman Faruqui, Secretary General to the President, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar.
The briefing was given by NDMA Chairman Lt. Gen. ® Nadeem Ahmed.
Briefing journalists, Spokesperson to the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar said that soon after the flood situation briefing in NDMA, the President presided over a meeting of the the Pakistan Business Council.
The leading representatives of business community who attended the meeting in the Presidency included Khalid Sherwani, ABL, Razi-ur-Rehman, CEO Atlas Group, Israr Ahmed, Dawood Group, Syed Javed, UBL, Amin Lakhani, Lakson Group, Kamran Y. Mirza, CEO Pak Business Council, Abdul Razzak Dawood, Chairman Descon, Bashir Ali Mohammad, Chairman Gul Ahmed and others.
Representatives of the Government who attended the meeting included Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Defence Minister Ch.  Ahmed Mukhtar, Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Secretary General to the President Salman Faruqui, Finance Secretary Salman Siddique and Muhammad Fayyaz Khan and relevant federal secretaries.
At the NDMA briefing, Lt. Gen. ® Nadeem Ahmed briefed the President about the latest flood situation along with provision and distribution of various items among the victims in different flood affected areas of the country.
He said that the percentage of relief items share to be distributed in various parts of the country was being regularly reviewed and revised on the basis of severity of the disaster situation in different parts of the flood affected areas.
The President said that transparency and speed were of the essence and asked the NDMA to draw up a plan for transparent distribution of cash among the victims.
He said that the model adopted for the distribution of cash among the internally displaced persons (IDPs) last year could be considered for adoption.
The President asked for special emphasis to be placed on the health sector to avoid the outbreak of epidemics.
The President said that the farmers have to be helped with seed for the next crop and a plan should be drawn by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture  and NDMA in consultation with other stake holders.
Farhatullah Babar quoted the President as saying that a clear distinction should be made between wheat for food and wheat for seed.
The President asked the Government to consider buying from the farmers some of the indigenous wheat stock as seed for the next crop and if any wheat is imported from abroad it may be used for consumption as food.
This, he said, would be necessary to guard against the potential hazards of unacclimatized foreign wheat as seed.
The President asked the Minister for Food and Agriculture to urgently make assessments and plans in this regard.
Addressing members of the Business Council, the President said that the government would take up as top priority the issue of market access with the United States and the European Union to help the industry and create jobs and opportunities to partially meet the challenges of floods.
The President asked Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to pursue with the international community the issue of market access as a single point agenda.
Babar said that the President also directed that satellite technology be used to map the direction in which columns of flood waters gushed.
There is a need to study whether the flood waters could be diverted to deserts in Balochistan, Sindh and southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said. “By doing so, we may be able to convert the catastrophe into an opportunity in the future,” the President said.
The President said, “as a nation we have great capacity to survive hazards and there was no reason why a united nation could not successfully meet the challenges of the 2010 floods.”
“We have survived the global recession and the earthquake in the recent past and will not only survive but also turn the flood catastrophe into an opportunity,” he said.
The President said the government realizes the difficulties being faced by those who have lost their belongings and their homes and were facing the extreme hardships in the tents and will endeavour to further improve the service delivery for those people.
The President said the state machinery has been fully mobilized to meet public expectations at the time of distress.
He said that government’s efforts for relief and rehabilitation needed to be supplemented by all segments of society, including private sector, NGOs, business communities, students, civil society and the philanthropists for their complete success and achieving of the desired targets.
The President said he has been holding meetings with different segments of the society regularly to mobilize their full support and resources for complementing government’s efforts.
The President, while appreciating the nation’s time tested virtue of always putting up courageous face to even worst of the crisis, said that the challenge no doubt was huge but unity, faith in their abilities and being resilient promises them a better future and takes them out of these crisis and  challenges.
The participants of the Business Council meeting put forth suggestions during the meeting that ultimately turned into an interactive session.
The President assured the participants that their suggestions would be duly considered and the government would benefit from the experience and insight of the business community.

LATEST NEWS OF FLOOD ZARDARI BRIEFED

 PRESIDENT ZARDARI BRIEFED OVER FLOOD SITUATION

ISLAMABAD, Aug 23 : President Asif Ali Zardari visited National Disaster Management Authority’s headquarters where he was briefed about the flood situation in the country. The President was briefed about the scale of devastation caused by floods in different areas and the measures of relief taken in the regard.The briefing focusing the government’s relief activities in flood-hit areas, was also attended by Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Minster for Economic Affairs Dr Hafeez Sheikh and Minister for Food Nazar Muhammad Gondal. Ambassador to United States Hussain Haqqani was also present.

LATEST NEWS OF AID HELP

  SWISS PEOPLE DONATES OVER $15.3 FOR FLOOD VICTIMS

ISLAMABAD, August 23 : Switzerland has stepped up its emergency aid contributions for flood victims in Pakistan, with more than $15.3 million donation. Six disaster management experts have been sent to the crisis regions by the Swiss humanitarian aid unit (SHA). The Swiss Solidarity foundation held a national fundraising day for the benefit of the flood victims. More than 16 millions Swiss Francs ($15.3 ml) have been collected so far.

According to the Swiss Embassy’s sources in Islamabad, the Swiss Government is also responding to appeals by the UN and the ICRC.
Swiss contributions to the UN World Food Programme reach CHF 1 million, while those to the ICRC have risen to CHF 3 million.
The distribution of material for provisional accommodation and household items to 1,000 families in the Swat Valley and of food and hygiene articles to about 2,000 flood victims to the south of Peshawar is under way.
In addition to the emergency aid, financial requirements will also increase in the future. Reconstruction and the restoration of fields and of vital crops will be a medium to long term task. Four SHA experts and two delegates of the Swiss Red Cross have arrived in Pakistan and will  prepare the ground for medium-term projects.
The Swiss Solidarity foundation in its national appeal cooperates with eight partner relief organizations. These organisations already work in the affected areas with local partners.
Throughout the fundraising day, 500 volunteers, including former Swiss Presidents Ruth Dreifuss and Adolf Ogi, collected donation from the Swiss people.
More than 16 million Swiss Francs have been collected so far for the benefit of flood victims in Pakistan and the bordering regions.  Swiss Solidarity foundation is a charitable, non-profit organization that raises funds for humanitarian relief projects. 

LATEST NEWS OF HELP

  INDONESIAN FOUNDATION TO EXTEND RUPIAH 200 MILLION ASSISTANCE

ISLAMABAD, Aug 23 : The National Humanitarian Foundation (PKPU), Indonesia would extend relief assistance worth 200 million Rupiah to the flood affected people in Pakistan.  A five-member delegation of the Foundation led by its Deputy CEO, Sri Adi Bramasetya met Ambassador Sanaullah on Monday giving details of their relief plan. Sri Adi informed the Ambassador that their two-member advance team comprising Mohammad Yasin Mansoor and Arief Septyawan would depart for Pakistan on Wednesday to have a thorough appraisal of the flood situation and chalk out a relief disbursement programme.

The advance team would contact other organizations and government functionaries involved in relief work for better coordination and access to the affected people. 
A group of 40 volunteers, all Indonesian students studying in Pakistan, would later join the PKPU team in relief work, Sri Adi added.
He said the PKPU would purchase all necessary items, including medicines, dry rations, blankets, family hygiene kits and baby food from Pakistan.
Ambassador Sanaullah thanked the PKPU for the goodwill gesture and said Pakistan was really in need of international support to overcome the gigantin problem caused by wide spread floods.
He said the Indonesian government had already sent one million dollars worth of relief assistance to Pakistan and just last week, Mohammadiyah and the National Zakat Agency( BAZNAS) had also pledged assistance for flood affectees.
He said with growing information about flood situation in Pakistan, more organizations were coming forward for help Pakistan which was really appreciable.
The National Humanitarian Foundation (PKPU) was established in 1999. It maintains 17 branches countrywide and also has resident representatives in Qatar, Australia, Japan, Germany and USA.
The Foundation also took part in the relief efforts in the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan.

LATEST NEWS FLOOD

  RIVER INDUS IN EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH FLOOD AT KOTRI BARRAGE

ISLAMABAD, Aug 23 : River Indus is flowing in exceptionally high flood Level with rising trend at Kotri Barrage with water discharge of 851,000 cusecs while in very high flood level with falling trend in Guddu - Sukkur reach with outflow of 751,000 and 784,000 cusecs respectively. According to a daily report issued by Federal Flood Commission, the river is in medium flood with falling trend in Chashma-Taunsa reach with water discharge of 398,000 and 425,000 cusecs respectively. 

The river is in low flood in Tarbela-Kalabagh reach and River Kabul in medium flood stage in Warsak-Nowshera reach with outflow of 76,000 cusecs. 
The flood flows in River Indus is gradually receding in Guddu - Sukkur Reach. However, it is likely to be in very high flood stage during the next 24 hours which can result inundation and riverine flooding of low lying areas of Districts Khairpur, Jacobabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Dadu, Nawabshah, Hyderabad and Nausheroferoze.
The river has attained exceptionally high flood level of 874,000 cusecs at Kotri Barrage, which could further rise upto 900,000 cusecs during the next 24 hours.
The river is likely to be in very high to exceptionally high flood stage during the next 7-8 days, whereas “high flood situation” at Kotri Barrage is expected during the subsequent 8-10 days. Under this scenario, the inundation and riverine flooding of low lying areas of Districts Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin and adjoining areas along both banks of river, especially Sajawal, Mirpur Bataro, Mirpur Sakro, Jhang Shahi, Allah Rakhio, Shadadkot, Jamshoro, Matiari, Makaro, Ketibander, Shahbander is expected.
All other main rivers including Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej are flowing normal.
Tarbela Dam has attained its Maximum Conservation Level of 1550.00 feet, whereas Mangla Dam is at an elevation of 1206.00 feet, which is 4.00 feet below its Maximum Conservation Level of 1210.00 feet.
The combined live storage position of Tarbela, Mangla and Chashma is 11.662 MAF as compared to last year’s 11.698 MAF.

FLOOD LATEST NEWS TERBELA DAMS IS FULL OF WATER

  TERBELA DAMS ACHIEVES ITS MAXIMUM WATER CONSERVATION LEVEL

ISLAMABAD, Aug 23 : The Tarbela dam on Monday achieved its maximum water conservation level of 1550 feet while inflow was recorded as 301,800 cusecs against the outflow of 79,000 cusecs.  According to the data released by Indus River System Authority (IRSA) here, the maximum water level in River Indus at Tarbela was 1550.00 feet which was 172 feet above its dead level. The IRSA released 519,341 cusecs water from various rim stations with inflow of 542,141 cusecs.

The release of water at Kalabagh, Taunsa and Sukkur was recorded as 354,663, 429,528 and 827,350 cusecs respectively.
The water level in River Jhelum at Mangla was 1206.00 feet which is 166 feet above its dead level of 1040 feet whereas the inflow and outflow of water in the dam was recorded as same 53,832.
Similarly, from River Kabul a total of 79,200 cusecs of water was released at Nowshera and 107,309 cusecs released from River Chenab at Marala.

PM GIVES Rs.50 MILLION AID TO GILGIT BALTISTAN

PM GILANI GIVES Rs.50 MILLION TO FLOOD EFFECTED AREAS IN GILGIT BALTISTAN

ISLAMABAD, Aug 23 : Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Monday handed over a cheque of Rs 50 million to the Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan for the urgent purchase of food, medicine and relief goods for the flood affected people.The Prime Minister who is here on a day long visit to meet the people who have been displaced and affected by the recent heavy rains assured that the government would do all within its means to help the people.He handed over cheque of Rs 50 million to the Chief Minister for acquisition of urgent goods.

Gilani was briefed at the airport about the devastation and urgent requirements of the area.Prime Minister Gilani also directed that 10 mobile medical units including male and female staff and Lady Health Visitors would be dispatched to the area. Besides, Gilani said, a field hospital with necessary equipment would also be rushed to the area.
Gilani when informed that the area had only ten days more of wheat left, assured that the government would ensure supply of wheat to the area.
Accompanied by Ministers of Information Qamar Zaman Kaira, Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Law Babar Awan, Communications Arbab Alamgir Khan and Chairman Pakistan Baitul Maal Zamurrad Khan, Gilani later went to visit Ganche and Diamir, to see for himself the devastation.
Prime Minister Gilani met Chief Operating Manager of World Health Organisation Dr Altaf Musani while on his way to Gilgit from Islamabad, and assured that the organisation would do all to counter any epidemic in the flood affected areas.

BUS OVERTURNS IN DG KHAN

 30 RESCUED 12 BODIES RECOVERED AS A BUS OVERTURNS

DERA GHAZI KHAN, Aug 23 : Thirty passengers were rescued while bodies of twelve others were recovered from water after the bus carrying them went upside down while passing through Kharar Buzdar hill torrent on Taunsa-DI Khan road near Taunsa Sharif on Monday. Rescue 1122 Incharge Dr. Natiq Hayat told APP that they also received information that bodies of few passengers,swept away by water, were taken out by people in nearby villages and THQ hospital staff have been asked to collect them from there.

Thirty passengers were saved after 20 rescuers cut the body of the bus to take them out. Two were hospitalized with injuries while others had only minor bruises.
Sixteen passengers are still missing. “The bus is now filled with water and sand and we fear there might be eight to ten more passengers entangled inside it”, says Dr. Natiq.
They have now employed heavy machinery, Crane, to retrieve the bus. The incident occurred some 35 kilometres away from Taunsa city on a portion of Taunsa-DI Khan road at a time when hill torrent water was crossing the road at a reasonable speed.
The uneven road surface damaged due to hill torrent and the speedy water might be the reason behind the accident.
The hill torrents from Suleman Mountain Range are a usual phenomenon during monsoon season and in addition to destroying standing crops and rural settlements, they sometimes also damage inter-district roads in DG Khan and Rajanpur districts.

CHINA DONATES 1000 TONES RICE TO PAKISTAN

CHINA DONATES 1000 TONES RICE TO FLOOD EFFECTIES IN PAKISTAN

BEIJING, Aug 23 : The China Asia International Finance Ltd, based in the Sichuan province of China and KASB Finance (Pakistan) have jointly donated 1000 tonnes of rice for the flood affecttes in Pakistan.  The total value of this donation is approximately US $8,50,000/-.The Chinese company is making arrangements to deliver the rice consignment to Pakistan. Li Yan, Chairman of China Asia International Finance Ltd said that in view of serious difficulties faced by victims of current floods in Pakistan as well as due to close friendship between Pakistan and China, his company has decided to send rice to Pakistan as their contribution to alleviate the suffering of their Pakistani brothers and sisters. The company is sending this donation in collaboration with Nasir Ali Shah Bukhari, Chairman KASB Finance (Pakistan).

FLOOD WATER HITTING EMBANKMENTS AT KATCHA AREAS

THATTA,Aug 22 - Village Tando Hafiz Shah is submerged after increase of super flood down stream Kotri. The population of the village was about 5000. Majority of people were evacuated out of Katcha area and shifted to safer places and in relief camps.  Flood water has started gushing toward another Katcha village Rajoo Nizamani near Jhirik. Meanwhile entire Katcha area has been submerged and water has started hitting the embankments.  There are 26 vulnerable points on both sides of river embankments in this district.  The most vulnerable points include Soorjani, Monarki, Sonda-hilaya bund and MS bund.

The flood water breached the embankment of RBOD canal, over-topped KB feeder bind and started entering in it on Sunday. DCO Manzoor Shaikh, MNA Dr. Abdul Wahid Soomro, irrigation engineer Iqbal Palijo reached the site to control the water flow.
Hectic efforts are underway by the administration and all concerned departments to save the dykes and avert any major eventuality.  Army jawans are assisting the administration in all out efforts in this district.
Meanwhile there are complaints from people in relief camps for lack of care for them. The affected people came to press club and narrated their ordeal and invited attention of higher authorities to their plight.

NO INTENDING PILGRIM READY TO SKIP HAJJ DESPITE MASSIVE FLOOD

ISLAMABAD, Aug 22 : Despite heavy floods in most parts of the country, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has not received any application so far from the intending pilgrims, requesting withdrawal from performing Hajj. It was expected that a large number of the successful candidates would contact the ministry to get their names dropped, citing their inability to perform Hajj following the massive destruction caused by the floods. Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi talking to APP said that the Ministry has not received such applications so far.

However, there could be possibility that the intending pilgrims belonging to the calamity-hit areas would have contacted with those designated bank branches where they had submitted their Hajj applications, he said.
Kazmi said the ministry would ensure reimbursement of intending pilgrims’ amounts deposited in banks as soon as it receives any such application.
He said unsuccessful candidates in Hajj-2010 balloting were approaching the ministry for including their names in place of the dropping out successful applicants, if any.
“A waiting list of Hujjaj has also been arranged to accommodate them, if some successful candidates belonging to flood affected areas of the country withdraw from performing Hajj,” he added.
The ministry on August 11 had selected 68,800 intending pilgrims through the computerized balloting, out of total 86,000 applicants to be sent to Saudi Arabia for performing Hajj under the government scheme.
This year, 79,647 Hujjaj would perform the religious obligation under the regular scheme. The applicants who remained unsuccessful in the ballot during last two years consecutively were also selected without draw. 
The intending pilgrims for Hajj-2009, who could not proceed due to negligence of some Hajj Group Organizers were also selected without balloting.
As many as 160,000 intending pilgrims would perform Hajj this year under the government and private schemes.
Commenting on flood relief activities, the minister said the federal government in collaboration with provincial governments and all concerned departments has launched a massive relief operation to mitigate sufferings of the flood affected people.
He said each and every member of the federal cabinet was taking active part in relief efforts being carried out in the flood-hit areas.
Kazmi said he distributed more than 3,000 ration packets among the affected families in his constituency - Liaquat Pur.