Caretaker CM calls for implementation on projects of rehabilitation under World Bank project without delay

Independent Report

QUETTA: The caretaker Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Ali Mardan Khan Domki has called for implementation on the projects of rehabilitation in flood affected areas of the province without delay under the World Bank Programme.
He also stressed the need to ensure early release of the funds of Rs. 400 million approved by ECNEC for rehabilitation in different sectors in the flood affected districts.
The Chief Minister regretfully noted that the grant of Rs. 10 billion announced by the then federal government for relief and rehabilitation of the flood affected people has not been received yet.
He supported the proposal of increase in the financial compensation of the houses completely or partially damaged in the flood hit areas. However, it should be ensured to pay the compensation to all affectees.
The caretaker Chief Minister was co-chairing through video link the national meeting of steering committee about the rehabilitation projects after the last year’s devastating floods in Balochistan held in Islamabad on Wednesday.
The caretaker Federal Minister for Planning, Planning and Special Initiatives, Muhammad Sami Saeed presided over the meeting of steering committee.
The Additional Chief Secretary Planning Abdul Saboor Kakar, Secretary Finance, Babar Khan, Principal Secretary to CM, Rashid Razzaq, Special Secretary, Asfandyar Baloch also participated in the meeting from Quetta through video link.
Speaking on the occasion, the caretaker Chief Minister noted that almost all districts of Balochistan were affected due to the devastating floods last year.
He also mentioned that large umber of houses, institutions of health and education as well as roads infrastructure and communication system were also destroyed due to the floods.
Moreover, almost 50 bridges were partially or completely damaged due to the heavy rains and floods in the province, the Chief Minister pointed out.
He recalled that the federal government had announced grant of Rs. 10 billion for relief and rehabilitation of the flood affected people of the province last year, however, the same grant has not been provided to the province yet.
The Chief Minister demanded of the federal government to ensure immediately release of the grant of Rs. 400 million approved by ECNEC for rehabilitation of different sectors besides ensuring implementation on the projects of rehabilitation under World Bank Project without any further delay.
Addressing the meeting, the caretaker Federal Minister for Planning and Special Initiatives endorsed the stance of caretaker Chief Minister Mir Ali Mardan Khan Domki.
He said that the problems and hurdles as highlighted by the caretaker Chief Minister are based on reality.
He said that the implementation on World Bank rehabilitation programme was delayed because of non-appointment of the Project Director.
However, the viable strategy has been chalked out to implement the rehabilitation programme now, and implementation on would be started on it soon, adding he assured.
He said that the federal government would extend wholehearted cooperation to the Balochistan government for implementation on the World Bank’s rehabilitation projects in the province.