Shehbaz distributes compensation package among rains victims

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif here on Wednesday distributed a huge compensation financial package among victims of the recent torrential rains and flooding of Khyber Pakthunkhwa.

He on behalf of the Federal Government distributed Rs two million cheque among heirs of each deceased and Rs. 500,000 among each injured of the recent torrential rains and floods in different districts of the province including merged tribal districts.

The prime minister handed over the compensation cheques during a function held here at Governor House. It was the first visit of the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to Khyber Pakthunkhwa after assuming the office of the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Besides others, Khyber Pakthunkhwa Governor, Haji Ghulam Ali, Members National Assembly, Khwaja Muhammad Asif, Engr Amir Muqam, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Murtaza Javed Abbasi, Attaullah Tarar, PML-N Leader Ishaq Dar, former Governor KP, Engr Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, senators, members provincial assemblies, Chairman NDMA Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik IGP KP Akhtar Hayat Gandapur and relatives of the rains victims were present on the occasion.

A total of 40 people including 27 children died and 62 injured during recent torrential rains and floods in Khyber Pakthukhwa. The prime minister directed the authorities concerned and relevant departments to complete estimates of all destroyed and partially damaged houses within five days and complete the process of disbursement of compensation payment by March 11.

He directed the NDMA and other relevant departments to use helicopters facility for transportation of officials to ensure speedy compilation of estimates of all the destroyed and partially damaged houses in far flung districts of Khyber Pakthunkhwa so that the process of compensation package could be completed within said period.

The prime minister said that delay in this regard would be unacceptable and officials failed to achieve their targets would be held accountable. Shehbaz Sharif announced that Rs 700,000 would be provided for repair of each destroyed house and Rs 300,000 for each partially damaged house.

The financial compensation was not an alternative of a human life but a token of economic relief to their families to live with dignity in the society, he added. He said the Holy Quran and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) had also laid great emphasis on observance of patience during difficult situation.

The prime minister said that he also visited rain hit areas of Balochistan the other day and expressed solidarity with the victims’ families. He said KP was the most rains and flood affected province in terms of human lives reported last month followed by Balochistan and Azad Kashmir and all necessary resources would be utilized by the federal government to help the victims families in this hour of difficulty.

PM seeks final implementation schedule for PIA’s privatization

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Wednesday sought a final implementation schedule for the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). He was chairing a high level meeting on the PIA’s privatization and restructuring of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

The prime minister directed the Ministry of Privatization to present the schedule about the PIA’s privatization in the next two days after taking necessary steps. He warned that no laxity and irresponsibility would be tolerated and said that complete transparency should be ensured in all phases of privatization.

During the meeting, the participants reviewed the progress on the privatization of PIA and considered the next phases of the process. The proposed roadmap for the system of automation of Federal Board of Revenue was also approved in principle.

The participants considered in detail the proposals for transparency in the system of FBR, infrastructure reforms according to international standards, increase in taxes through incentives, eradication of corruption and smuggling, separation of inland revenue and customs departments, and decrease in tax rates. The PM said that the roadmap should be implemented with clear-cut timelines.