KARACHI: Chairman PPP and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressing ‘Resilient Sindh: From Pledges to Reconstruction’ conference demanded International Monetary Fund (IMF) to soften its conditions for bail-out package so that flood victims of Pakistan could be protected from spiral of `price hike’. “Our people have already been drowned by floods and heavy rains and they cannot afford to be drowned again in flood of price hikes”, he expressed.

Bilawal Bhutto urged IMF to offer same conditions to people of Pakistan as it had offered to various other nations during Covid-19 endemic. Talking about housing project, Bilawal Bhutto directed Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to award ownership rights to affected people who had lost their houses in floods.

He demanded targeted subsidies from global institutions, including International Monetary Fund while expressing hope that talks between IMF and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar will go well. Until IMF deal was announced, other multilateral and bilateral lenders would not opt to give major new loans to Pakistan.

He maintained that targetted relief for flood affectees was crucial, particularly in agriculture, energy and basic amenities, “which are only possible if the IMF softens its conditions”.

He credited Pakistan’s successful diplomacy in helping gain funds for flood affectees at Geneva conference, but simultaneously stressed that $ 1.5 billion were needed for construction of houses. “Of this, World Bank has contributed $ 500 million and Sindh government has arranged for another $ 250 million, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has given another $ 250 million,” he said.

He also inaugurated release of funds to construct homes for affectees in province. Jointly organised by Sindh government and United Nations Development Programme. Conference discussed rehabilitation of areas impacted by catastrophic flooding in province.

Initially, these funds will be utilised in Sindh eight calamity-hit districts Larkana, Sukkur, Dadu, Hyderabad, Thatta, Shaheed Benazirabad, Umerkot and Tando Allahyar. Addressing summit, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said around 2.1 million homes were damaged during the province devastating floods.

Sindh administration, meanwhile, has signed an agreement to reconstruct these homes under a public-private partnership.

Chief Executive Officer Housing Khalid Shaikh and Sindh Rural Support Programme Hadi Bux signed agreement.

He revealed that on directions of Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, houses will be allotted to women of each household. It should be noted that funds were immediately transferred to eight districts upon release. First installment is Rs 75,000 and affectees are able to withdraw amount from banks.

Published in The Daily National Courier, February, 09 2023

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