Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in his emergent televised message aired live by all the news channels urged philanthropists to come and help the rain-affected people of the province which is enduring a catastrophe like never before.
“I have visited almost all the districts of the province and found it every nook and corner is inundated, making it look like a river,” he said and added that the people who have been temporarily settled at relief camps were in a state of shock and distress after losing their near and dear ones, cattle, and other belongings.
The CM said that he along with Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also visited relief camps where women and children were living with tears in their eyes. “This painful situation has poured out of our hearts,” he said and added that President Asif Ali Zardari was also in touch with them to take note of the situation.
He said Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is keen to visit flood-affected people but the weather condition is an obstacle to his arrival. “We all are trying to arrange tents, mosquito nets, beds, edibles, medicines, and such other things for the affected people,” he said and hoped everything would be made available within a few days.
Mr. Shah said that the riverine floods of 2010 had submerged all the cities, towns, and villages on the right bank of River Indus while the flash flood of 2011 had flooded the entire left bank and in those days our road network was not so good and despite this, philanthropists had helped the homeless and displaced people back then.
The CM said: “compared to 2010 and 2011 our road network, including link roads and farm-to-market roads provides easy access, therefore the philanthropists, welfare organizations, and donor agencies should visit to take stock of the situation and help and support the distressed people accordingly. Murad Ali Shah told the people living in the camps, along the main roads and on the riverine belt that they were not alone. “Your government is reaching out to each and every one of you,” he assured them.
The CM urged the people of the province to look after the poor, rain-affected, and helpless people living around them till the government reach out to them. “You have to bridge the gap between them and the government,” he urged the affluents and remarked that everyone is living for themselves and their family but, now the time has come they have to live for those who are in dire need.
Mr. Shah said that this year the province has received around 600 percent more rainfall than the usual rains. “These rains have not only flooded the residential areas but have caused a high flood in River Indus,” he said.
The chief minister urged people to support each other at this time of the test. “You have to face the situation with patience, courage, and empathy,” he urged and warned the hoarders not to indulge in hoarding, profiteering, and artificial price hike. Mr Shah hoped that nobody should dare to create a law and order situation in the province and understand the gravity of the situation.
