Kasur:
Friday, the president of the PPP, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, urged the federal government to play a more important role by relieving the areas affected by Punjab, while recognizing that the Minister -in -Chief Maryam Nawaz worked with diligence.
Addressing residents affected by the floods in Kasur, Bilawal said that the extent of destruction in Punjab was much higher than media reports had initially suggested. “I now realize that the damage is much more extensive. The federal government must take the lead in rescue efforts, as is the aid was extended during the previous floods,” he added.
The president of the PPP admitted that Maryam made a great effort. “We must recognize it. During natural disasters, those who work harder are often faced with more criticism.”
He said that he had ordered his party to intensify rescue work in Punjab, stressing that the provincial government alone could not manage the disaster.
Bilawal urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to channel greater assistance through the Benazir Revenue Program (BISP), especially for farmers who have brought the weight of agricultural losses.
“We are going to call on an agricultural emergency so that farmers can be supported with seeds and fertilizers,” he said. He also called for relief from agricultural loans and electricity bills, expressing the hope that the Prime Minister would take measures to support the agricultural community.
Bilawal also demanded damage assessments to houses and businesses. He has promised efforts to ensure that the areas affected by floods in Punjab have received priority aid through BISP.
The president of the PPP stressed that this year’s floods struck Punjab, although Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan also suffered earlier. “The federal government must support all the provinces. I hope that no political game will be played during the period of crisis. We must confront this natural disaster together,” he said.
Regarding cross -border water flows, the Bilawal blamed India for aggravating the flood crisis. “This flood came from the rivers that came out of India. The Water Treaty of the Indus requires the sharing of data on rivers flows, but the Modi government has rejected the agreement. This time, India has even forgotten humanity. They did not share information with Pakistan until the last moment, when they announced that they release water.”
He said Pakistan would raised violation of the treaty at the international level. “Either the industrial water treaty must be honored or our rivers must be returned. India is armament … It is terrorism by floods, targeting ordinary people,” added Bilawal.
During his visit, the farmers affected by the floods in Kasur submitted their requests, asking for alleviation, an exemption from electricity bills and fertilizers and agricultural loans. Bilawal also visited a rescue camp established by the government in Kasur.
