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Govt asked to compensate storm victims

Bureau Report 2015-04-28
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa opposition parties on Monday expressed concern about the loss of human life and property in Sunday`s rainstorm in Peshawar and adjoining parts and urged the government to compensate the affected families for damages.

Pakistan People`s Party provincial President Khanzada Khan told a news conference at Peshawar Press Club that the province needed at least Rs250 million on immediate basis to meet to some extent the losses caused by the calamity to some.

He said it was very unfortunate that the Met Office issued an alert about inclement weather three days ago before the calamity hit the province but the government didn`t take it seriously and thus, failing to take necessary measures.

`We will contact our (PPP`s) government in Sindh for the support of troubled families in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Like past, Pakistan People`s Party will take all possible steps to mitigate the misery of calamity victims,` he said.

The PPP provincial president appreciated Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for taking immediate steps in case of manmade or human disasters and said ironically, the Khyber Palchtunkhwa chief minister didn`t even know about the problems of own province.

He said PTI chairman Imran Khan had promised that the party`s government would build new dams in the province for power generation but the promise was unfulfilled despite lapse of two years in power.

Khanzada said PPP won`t stay silent on the issue of Kashgar-Gwadar economic route and would ensure that no province was discriminated against.

Qaumi Watan Party leader Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao also condoled rainstorm deaths in the province and demanded proper compensation for affected families.

In a statement, he said his party would not leave the rainstorm-hit people alone during the critical time.

He directed party leaders and workers to do rescue and relief operations in the areas devastated by the calamity.

Sherpao said the government should announce a compensation package for farmers, whose standing crops were destroyed by rainstorm in Peshawar, Charssada, Mardan, Nowshera and other districts.

Also in the day, QWP provincial chairman Sikandar Khan Sherpao visited the calamity-hit areas and condoled deaths with families.

He said his party stood by rainstorm victims and their families and would work for their welfare. Sikandar demanded that the provincial government announce financial assistance and compensation for the affected families.

PML-N leader and adviser to the prime minister Engineer Amir Muqam sympathised with families affected by rainstorm and asked the provincial government to support calamity victims. He said the government should compensate the people for damages without delay so that they could pick up the threads of life.