| Islamabad: Finance and Revenue Minister Ishaq Dar stated that the government has finalized a comprehensive Master Plan for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of flood-affected areas, a news source reported on June 23.
Read: ADB approves funds for emergency assistance in Balochistan’s flood-affected areas
The Finance Minister, during a session in the National Assembly, revealed that a special committee formed by the Prime Minister has agreed for the Ministry of Planning to finalise the USD 16.3 billion Master Plan tentatively by July 15.
Minister Dar emphasized that the government has allocated ample funds in the budget to undertake urgent projects for reconstruction of flood-affected areas. He highlighted that immediate rescue and relief efforts have already been carried out nationwide, with PKR 80 billion disbursed through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). Furthermore, he mentioned that approximately PKR 100 billion has been spent, in addition to the assistance provided by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in the form of goods.
Read: PM orders quick restoration of roads in flood-affected areas
Addressing the urgency of the situation, the minister mentioned that relief supplies have been procured from the NDMA store, and the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet recently approved PKR 12 billion to replenish its stock, considering the anticipated threats of monsoons and cyclones. He also stated that a comprehensive report has been prepared in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Union, and the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives. This report was compiled in response to the extensive damage caused by heavy rains and floods in 2022. |
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