Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah Wednesday urged the philanthropists to come and help rain-affected people of the province which is enduring a catastrophe like never before.
“I have visited almost all the districts of the province and found it’s every nook and corner is inundated, make it look like a river,” he said in his televised emergent message and added that the people who have been temporarily settled at relief camps were in a state of shock and distress after losing their near and dear ones, cattle and other
belongings.
The Chief Minister said that he along with Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also visited relief camps where women and children were living with tear in their eyes. “This painful situation has poured out of our hearts,” he said and added that former President Asif Ali Zardari was also in touch with them to take note of the situation.
He said Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is keen to visit flood affected people but the weather condition is an obstacle in his arrival. “We all are trying to arrange tents, mosquito nets, beds, edibles, medicines and such other things for the affected people,” he said and hoped everything would be made available within few days.
Mr Shah said that the riverine floods of 2010 had submerged all the cities, towns and villages on the right bank of River Indus while the flash flood of 2011 had flooded the entire left bank and in those days our road network was not so good and despite this, philanthropists had helped the homeless and displaced people back then.
The CM said: “compared to 2010 and 2011 our road network, including link roads and farm to market roads provides easy access, therefore the philanthropists, welfare organisations and donor agencies should visit to take stock of the situation and help and support the distressed people accordingly.
Murad Ali Shah told the people living in the camps, along the main roads and on the riverine belt that they were not alone. “Your government is reaching out to each and every one of you,” he assured them.
The CM urged people of the province to look after the poor, rain-affected and helpless people living around them till the government reach out to them. “You have to bridge the gap between them and the government,” he urged the affluents and remarked that every one is living for themselves and their family but, now time has come they have to live for those who are in dire need.
Mr Shah said that this year the province has received around 600 percent more rainfall than the usual rains. “These rains have not only flooded the residential areas but have caused high flood in River Indus,” he said.
The chief minister urged people to support each other at this time of test. “You have to face the situation with patience, courage and empathy,” he urged and warned the hoarders not to indulge in hoarding, profiteering and artificial price hike.—NNI
