ISLAMABAD: Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal recalled on Saturday that the current unprecedented wave of monsoon rains is part of a global climate change pattern that has resulted in heavy rains and flooding in the United States, Bangladesh and other countries. Tehreek-i-Insaf is playing politics at such a crucial time.
Speaking at a press conference at the headquarters of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), Mr Iqbal, who is also chairman of the Flood Relief Committee, called on all Pakistanis: “Please stop all those things that fuel pessimism.”
“We are a brave country, and we have also fought major natural disasters in the past, such as the massive earthquake in 2005 and the catastrophic flood in 2010,” he said, adding that the government and the country would not abandon those affected by Balochistan. People affected by floods in the province. , Sindh and KP.
He criticized Imran Khan and his party, which have been verbally critical of the government.
“Today, Imran [Khan] To say that the huge damage was done because we didn’t have an effective infrastructure – that’s a false statement…it’s irresponsible and shouldn’t have happened,” the minister said. He asked Mr Khan if the government was also concerned about the US, India Or the damage caused by the floods in Bangladesh. “Are we in the government there too? “
He said KP had witnessed the worst infrastructure damage, claiming it was because the PTI-led government had allowed the construction of buildings, mainly hotels, along the banks and riverbeds for the past eight years.
“But we are not playing politics on this issue and only a collective effort can lead the country out of the current crisis,” he added.
He mentioned a bridge in KP, which was swept away by floods in 2010, and was raised by the National Highway Administration (NHA) by 5 meters during reconstruction. But even so, he said, the water level reached that level, showing the scale and severity of the current flooding.
He also called for wholehearted donations to the relief fund set up by the Prime Minister and to the relief camps set up by the NDMA and the Pakistan Army.
Posted in Dawn, August 28, 2022
