Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal, has said that relief activities after the devastating effects of floods across the country could continue for the “next two years”.
“Natural disasters are a result of climate change, however, we are coming up with plans to deal with them in the future. For now, the government has allocated Rs40 billion for 20 underdeveloped districts.”
The federal minister said that the armed forces, provincial governments and district administrations are working actively to provide relief.
“The floods have caused wide-scale destruction”, he added while urging the nation to unite and help those affected by floods.
On Thursday, Climate Change Minister Senator Sherry Rehman announced that the Parliament has approved the country’s largest “Living Indus” initiative that is aimed at protecting the cradle of civilizations which was under serious threat due to environmental degradation and anthropogenic activities.
The floods have also raised questions on whether Pakistan will be able to pay its debts on time. Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari have sought climate justice to compensate for the destruction.
It is pertinent to mention that the US is so far the largest donor to flood relief and rehabilitation funds. Washington has provided about $56 million to Pakistan since July.
Devastating floods are responsible for killing more than 1,600 people and the damages to the infrastructure is estimated at nearly $30 billion.
