ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday called for collective efforts to rehabilitate the flood affected people by rising above political affiliations and assured transparency and “zero tolerance” in collection and distribution of donations.

Addressing a meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) here at the PM Secretariat, attended by the four Chief Ministers, federal ministers and senior officials to discuss the situation in the wake of worst ever flooding, Gilani stressed the need for drawing a strategy to deal with this national catastrophe.

Gilani said the government has received rough estimates of billions of dollars due to the damages caused to crops, private properties, government buildings, communications network, power infrastructure, food storage, livestock and poultry, health and education facilities.

He said adverse effect on future economic growth will also off-set the financial gains made by the government in the last two years.

“We will have to re-prioritise our economic goals and drastically cut-down expenditures. I expect full cooperation from the provincial governments in this regard,” Prime Minister Gilani said.

He said the CCI was the most appropriate forum to handle these issues in an equitable manner, as it has the mandate to formulate and regulate policies in relation to matters concerning provincial and the federal governments.

He called for a strategy to deal with this national catastrophe with special emphasis on immediate relief measures, planned rehabilitation, a sustainable reconstruction plan and equitable utilisation of flood relief funds and items.

He said it would be made in a transparent, fair and judicious manner through an institutional oversight mechanism which meets international standards.

“We need to make a collective plan for our distressed brothers and sisters, without a consideration for political gains, party affiliation or regional preferences.”

He said for him every flood affected person whether from Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkwa or Punjab was as dear as his own kith and kin.

“Our immediate task is to save the lives of the people stranded in the flood affected areas,” the prime minister said.

He said rescue operations were successfully being carried out with the help of Army, Navy and the Air Force.

Regarding the collection and distribution of funds, Prime Minister Gilani said “let me categorically assure everyone that there shall be no discrimination in distribution of the available resources.”

He said every penny received and each item collected would be distributed to the provinces, by the Federal Government, in a most transparent just and equitable manner.

“I have instructed the concerned agencies that there will be zero tolerance for misuse of authority,” he added.

Prime Minister Gilani said as the water recedes in various areas the affected will have to be treated for illnesses, mal-nourishment and psychological trauma.

“We have to help them, rebuild, rehabilitate and recuperate. As the world watches, we cannot drop the ball.”

He called for focused and targeted relief and rehabilitation efforts through provincial governments and said early recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction strategies were a priority.

He said though oversight will be done through an institutional mechanism, the utilisation in terms of assessment and priorities will be carried out by the provincial governments themselves.

“I must advise the provincial governments to regulate and distribute the goods without prejudice, in the most transparent and equitable manner. Let history be testimony to an objective display of judicious resource distribution,” Gilani said.

He said while learning from the experience of earthquake of 2005 and the IDPs’ resettlement, the federal government will ensure effective policy formulation and monitor rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts on a steady pace.

“Let's today resolve, for the sake of all the affected people, whose lives are in peril, to do some thing for them, to enable us to look forward with hope and to look backwards with pride.”

“We must not fail, as failure is not an option. With Allah's blessing and the zeal and courage our nation has historically show, I am certain that we shall once again, be able to bring back the smiles on the peoples' faces,” Gilani said in an impassioned appeal.

The Prime Minister also gave an overview of the flood damages that have played havoc in 79 out of 124 districts causing massive damages to the standing crops, over 1.3 million acres.

“In my visits to the flooded areas all over the country, I have witnessed horrible tales of fear and deprivation,” he said.

He said around 20 million people were seeking help, over 1,752 have lost their lives while 2,697 are injured.

He said over 1.349 million people have been rescued by helicopters and boats by our valiant Army, Navy and Air Force.

About 1,000 bridges and over 4000 KMs roads have been damaged, re-construction of which would cost Rs.8 to 9 billion.

Nearly 1/5th of irrigation infrastructure, livestock and crops have been destroyed. Wapda and Pepco’s cumulative losses exceed Rs.13 billion.

Gilani said a total of US $ 953.7 million had been pledged by donors through UN system and bilaterally so far.

The government through National Health Emergencies Preparedness & Response Network (NHEPRN), under the Ministry of Health has provided essential drugs, field hospitals, medical teams and medicines to cover the health needs of 2.5 million people affected by the floods.

He said the international community has been able to realise the gravity of the situation. The visit and humanitarian appeal of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General, OIC, Prince Talal of Saudi Arabia, Senator John Kerry and the first lady of Turkey bear testimony to the international community's growing support to Pakistan in its moment of crisis.

He said over 77 countries have contributed in cash and kind towards the relief for flood affected people. The IMF has lent emergency financial support to Pakistan. World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other donors have also promised to redirect and fast track their existing commitments. The United States, United Kingdom, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Germany and many others have noticeably participated in this humanitarian endeavour.

Gilani said Foreign Ministers of 27 EU countries are informally meeting in Brussels on September 10 to unveil a multi-faceted growth and development strategy.

This reflects a growing thinking that Pakistan not only needs emergency humanitarian assistance but also a medium term development and reconstruction, disaster preparedness support.

He said the PM's Flood Relief Fund has received generous contributions of over Rs.4 billion, while the provincial governments and NGOs have also launched their own relief efforts and were reaching the flood affected people in a big way.

During the meeting, Gilani also condemned the recent suicide attacks in Lahore, Quetta and Lakki Marwat that have claimed over 100 precious lives and injured scores of civilians, at a time when our nation is faced with a natural calamity of colossal proportions.

“It goes to show that terrorists have no creed except bloodshed and chaos, and are desperately carrying out their agenda regardless of the precarious conditions. I want to stress today that we shall never let their nefarious designs succeed,” the Prime Minister added. — APP

The official said the bomber struck the back-wall of the police station at around 7:00 am, causing severe damage to the premises and several other adjoining buildings.

Minister for Information, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mian Iftikhar Hussain told Dawn that 19 people had been killing in the bombing; among them were eight civilians and two children.

No group has accepted responsibility for the bombing but militants have been active in the area, killing the district police chief in a suicide bombing several months ago.

Also, over a hundred people were killed in a village in the same district January last, when a suicide bomber blew his explosives-laden vehicle amidst a crowed watching a volley-ball match to punish them for supporting the government’s anti-militants; drive.

"The militants are taking advantage of the flood situation. They know that we all are busy in the relief and rescue work," Mr. Iftikhar said, while referring to the devastating floods in Pakistan, which the UN said was worse than the Tsunami, that has displaced millions of people across the country.

"But we are not going to lower our guard," the Minister for Information said. "We need a relentless, comprehensive and effectively strategy to chase and hunt them down in their tribal sanctuary. These terrorists can no longer deceive the people in the name of the religion," Iftikhar said, whose only son was killed by militants outside his home in his hometown of Pabbi, not far from the capital Peshawar.

There has been a surge in violent attacks across the country this month, including suicide bombings in capital cities of Balochistan and the Punjab, killing nearly a hundred people in the two attacks.

Government officials however, continue to insist that while the back of militancy in Pakistan has been broken, the scourge is not likely to end up anytime soon. "It will take years," said a security official. “We will continue to live with these attacks for quite some time."

KARACHI: Authorities were Monday racing to protect two southern towns and their 360,000 residents from surging floods, as the nation struggles to cope with its worst natural disaster in living memory.

A month-and-a-half after monsoons caused devastating floods throughout the country, submerging an area the size of England, eight million people remain dependent on handouts for their survival, which many say are too slow coming.

Advancing floodwaters continue to threaten towns in Sindh province, where 19 of its 23 districts have been deluged, displacing more than 2.8 million people, according to provincial authorities.

“The situation is a bit serious in Johi town and Dadu. We are taking all-out measures to save them from ravaging floodwaters,” provincial irrigation minister Jam Saifullah Dharejo told AFP.

“The water is 20 kilometres away from Dadu city but we cannot rule out a serious threat to this city,” one of the largest in the north of Sindh, Dharejo said.

“We are making all our efforts to save Dadu and Johi,” he added.

Dadu and Johi are about 320 kilometres north of Karachi and officials fear the waters will breach protective embankments unless they are quickly strengthened.

“Things are getting serious, we have employed all the possible resources on the embankments to save the remaining towns and villages of Dadu district,” Dharejo said.

District coordination officer Iqbal Memon said Johi was more in danger from the advancing floods.

“The floodwaters are fast heading towards Johi town after inundating most parts of Khairpur Nathan Shah and Mehar towns and several surrounding villages in Dadu district,” he said.

“For two days, we are employing all available means to strengthen the protective embankments around Dadu and Johi but the threat still remains,” he said.

About 80 per cent of the Johi's population of 60,000 had already fled to safer areas. Memon, however, asked the 300,000 residents of Dadu not to panic.

“The people of Dadu city should remain vigilant for any serious situation that could come across,” he said.

The UN has warned that the slow pace of aid pledges could impede relief operations and says Pakistan faces a triple threat to food supplies — with seeds, crops and incomes hit.

The floods have ruined 3.6 million hectares of rich farmland, and the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation said farmers urgently needed seeds to plant for next year's crops.

Prime Minister Gilani has warned that the country faces inflation of up to 20 per cent and slower growth because of the disaster.

The floods have killed 1,760 people but disaster officials have said the number of deaths is likely to rise “significantly” when the missing are accounted for.

The official said the bomber struck the back-wall of the police station at around 7:00 am, causing severe damage to the premises and several other adjoining buildings.

Minister for Information, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mian Iftikhar Hussain told Dawn that 19 people had been killing in the bombing; among them were eight civilians and two children.

No group has accepted responsibility for the bombing but militants have been active in the area, killing the district police chief in a suicide bombing several months ago.

Also, over a hundred people were killed in a village in the same district January last, when a suicide bomber blew his explosives-laden vehicle amidst a crowed watching a volley-ball match to punish them for supporting the government’s anti-militants; drive.

"The militants are taking advantage of the flood situation. They know that we all are busy in the relief and rescue work," Mr. Iftikhar said, while referring to the devastating floods in Pakistan, which the UN said was worse than the Tsunami, that has displaced millions of people across the country.

"But we are not going to lower our guard," the Minister for Information said. "We need a relentless, comprehensive and effectively strategy to chase and hunt them down in their tribal sanctuary. These terrorists can no longer deceive the people in the name of the religion," Iftikhar said, whose only son was killed by militants outside his home in his hometown of Pabbi, not far from the capital Peshawar.

There has been a surge in violent attacks across the country this month, including suicide bombings in capital cities of Balochistan and the Punjab, killing nearly a hundred people in the two attacks.

Government officials however, continue to insist that while the back of militancy in Pakistan has been broken, the scourge is not likely to end up anytime soon. "It will take years," said a security official. “We will continue to live with these attacks for quite some time."

The News of the World newspaper quotes opening batsman Yasir Hameed as saying Pakistan players are throwing matches.

''They were doing it in almost every match,'' Hameed was quoted as saying by the News of the World newspaper. ''God knows what they were up to. Scotland Yard was after them for ages.

''It makes me angry because I'm playing my best and they are trying to lose.''

Hameed played in last week's fourth test against England, in which Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir are alleged to have deliberately bowled no-balls in conspiracy with bookmakers.

The International Cricket Council suspended Asif, Amir and test captain Salman Butt this week while it investigates them for various offenses under the sport's anti-corruption code.

The ICC has not detailed the charges, which followed a sting operation detailed in last week's News of the World that alleged that a middleman accepted payment in exchange for the deliberate no-balls in the match at Lord's, which Pakistan lost by an innings and 225 runs for its worst ever test defeat.

The ICC has called it the biggest fixing scandal to hit cricket for a decade. The News of the World said its Sunday edition will claim that a fourth Pakistan player is being investigated by the ICC, but that he cannot be named for legal reasons.

The tabloid said Butt, Amir and Asif face a total of 23 charges from the ICC. The captain of Pakistan's limited overs teams has apologized to cricket fans for the controversy.

Shahid Afridi said Saturday that the players in the squad for the remaining two Twenty20 and five one-day matches against England were upset by the allegations.

''On behalf of these boys, I know they're not in this series, I want to say sorry to all cricket lovers and all cricketing nations,'' Afridi said.

''It's very bad news,'' Afridi said ahead of Sunday's first Twenty20 in Cardiff. ''It's a big challenge for me as captain but we're all ready. The coach and I are not talking about the issue _ we are here to play cricket.''

The trio were released without criminal charge after being questioned by London police on Friday but could be banned from cricket for life if found guilty.

The Pakistan Cricket Board's legal adviser said Saturday that Butt, Amir and Asif have denied knowledge of any alleged wrongdoing by the middleman, agent Mazhar Majeed.

''The players have informed the police that the man was their agent, but they had no knowledge,'' about his alleged wrongdoing, Tafazzul Rizvi told private television channels in Pakistan.

The News of the World has accused Majeed of acting as a middleman, accepting money in exchange for getting Asif and Amir to bowl intentional no-balls.

''I've told the boys, 'don't read the newspapers,''' Afridi said. ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said Friday the allegations that the case was the most serious case of corruption since South Africa captain Hansie Cronje was banned for life 10 years ago.

Cronje admitted to forecasting results in exchange for money from a London bookmaker, prompting the ICC to create its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU).

The News of the World said that its Sunday edition will include proof that Pakistan High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan was mistaken in his assertion that the paper recorded Majeed discussing the timing of the no-balls after they were bowled on Aug. 26.

Hasan, Pakistan's top diplomat in Britain, has accused the ICC of bias for banning the players while police are still looking into the case.

''After the shocking, arbitrary and high-handed suspension of the three Pakistani cricketers through the ICC's uncalled for action, nothing is coming to me as a surprise,'' Hasan said in a statement Friday. ''Rather, my apprehensions that there is a rat in the whole affair are being strengthened.''

Lorgat has denied that the charges were evidence of bias and said the ICC was committed to maintaining the country's status as a full member of the body. -AP

QUETTA: The death toll from a suicide attack on a Shia Muslim procession rose from 56 to 65 overnight as critically wounded people died in hospital, police said.

Police official Mohammed Sultan said Saturday that about 150 people were wounded and some remain critical after the attack claimed by the Pakistani Taliban in the southwestern city of Quetta. A triple suicide attack Wednesday night killed 35 people at a Shia procession in Lahore.

Leaders of the minority sect called a general strike in Quetta and all schools are closed for a day in mourning, police said.

Pakistan's government is struggling to deal both with massive flooding and the incessant militant violence aimed at overthrowing the administration. — AP

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday called for an All Parties’ Conference to discuss the flood situation.

During his speech in the National Assembly, Prime Minister Gilani said the loss incurred by Pakistan due to the floods was between five to six billion US dollars and that 30 per cent of the country’s agricultural land had been devastated.

Gilani informed NA that around four billion rupees had been accumulated by September 3 in the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. He said the floods had claimed more than 1,600 lives.

He further said that some 479 health centres were operational and providing relief to the survivors. — DawnNews