I will supervise relief work myself: Gilani

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Thursday, while presiding over the National Disaster Management Council (NDMC) meeting that he will supervise rehabilitation work himself, and announced the formation of the NDMC which will transparently collect funds for the flood affected people. “I myself supervise the relief and rehabilitation process for the flood victims to get it done in a transparent manner,” said PM Gilani in the NDMC meeting. The meeting was presided over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and attended by all the chief ministers, Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, Chairman of NDMA and heads of organisations concerned. PM Gilani assured that qualified and talented people will be appointed by the NDMC, their names will be announced soon. He said close coordination and better understanding among the federal and provincial governments would greatly facilitate streamlining the relief and rehabilitation efforts. The Prime Minister said a joint strategy was the need of the hour to effectively confront the challenges of relief and rehabilitation. The Prime Minister said the government was working on the three aspects of rescue, relief and rehabilitation by gearing up its entire machinery to reach out to the affected people and help them resume their normal lives. Gilani urged the international community to take note of the “one of the worst disasters” of its type in recent history. “I appeal to the world to come in a big way on humanitarian basis,” he added. Prime Minister Gilani thanked the international community, donor countries, foreign and local NGOs for their all support to the flood affected people of Pakistan. “I particularly thank King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz for his generous aid offer,” Gilani said in a brief chat with media after visiting a relief camp. Gilani said the government was cognizant of the problems of the people in the wake of the devastating floods, and was trying to cope with it. He expressed his deep sorrow and grief over the heavy losses and said it was a testing time that demanded unity and strength