Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday announced a special relief package for flooded communities. The package specifically includes waiver of electricity bills for domestic consumers in August.
In a short TV address to the nation, the prime minister said, the federal government would carry the cost of payments on behalf of households.
“We fully understand the flood of flood victims. This payment is not a favor, but their right,” he said, adding that those who had already paid their August bills would have the amount adjusted in next month’s bills.
Shehbaz said that clear instructions have been issued to power distribution companies to ensure immediate implementation. He added that assessments were underway to calculate losses and obligations for agricultural, commercial and industrial sectors in the affected areas.
“Restoring their bills has been suspended for now. If the estimates of these sectors prove to be higher, the government will take further steps to give relief,” he said.
The prime minister described the destruction caused by the floods as ‘heartbreaking’ and noted that many people were left without shelter. “This is a humble effort from the government to share the victims’ suffering. We will ensure complete rehabilitation of all flood -affected areas,” he said.
He promised that the government will not rest until any displaced person is resettled. “May Allah help us in this effort,” he said.
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In an attempt to mitigate the suffering of people affected by the worst flood in decades, the government was considering relief in electricity bills to consumers. However, approval from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was required for this purpose.
The floods in three rivers have so far made millions of people homeless and damaged crops on 1.3 million acres of land. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had asked the Ministry of Finance to reach the IMF and secure its consent to provide relief in electricity bills in areas affected by the floods, according to government sources.
Following the prime minister’s instructions, the ministry held a virtual meeting with the IMF on Friday and sought its endorsement for the exception, they added.
Pakistani authorities requested the IMF to postpone the bills for three months with reference to a precedent set in 2022, when similar relief had been offered in flood -affected regions.
Sources said consumers in the areas covered by the Lahore Electricity Supply Company, Gujranwala Electric Power Company, Faisalabad Electricity Supply Company and Multan Electric Power Company have been adversely affected by the flood. Consumers of SUKKUR Electric Power Company are likely to be affected as well.
“The immediate concern is to tackle the question of the electricity bills for the month of August,” the federal minister of power Sardar Awais Laghari told Express Pakinomist. He said that the Power Division collected data from the affected areas, after which it would be able to assess the fiscal requirements for relief.
The prime minister is “very inclined” to facilitate the burden of power consumers in flooding areas, and a formal message is expected soon, Laghari added.
ALSO READ: Over 100 died like Punjab rolls from devastating floods
At least 101 people have died in Punjab due to widespread floods, officials said, as more than 4,700 villages and about 4.57 million inhabitants have been affected throughout the province.
Auxiliary Commissioner Nabeel Javed from Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said about 2.51 million people had been moved to safer areas.
The South Punjab government has deployed air trons to supply food and medicine for flood victims in inaccessible areas. Officials described the efforts as Pakistan’s first emergency drone service that was able to carry up to 200 kg of help and evacuate people from dangerous places. Ten drones will be acquired to expand the operations.
The Punjab SAAF Pani authority has so far delivered 1.57 million liters of clean drinking water to more than 525,000 people throughout the province. Yesterday alone, 192,700 liters were delivered.
So far, 392 emergency camps, 493 medical camps and 422 veterinary camps have been established in the hardest hit districts. Police said over 16,000 employees, supported by 770 vehicles and 40 boats, have saved more than 681,000 people and moved 2,019 million livestock to safety.
Inspector of Punjab Police Dr. Usman Anwar said Safe City’s thermal imaging and drone cameras were used in the operations. Rescue 1122 teams, supported by welfare organizations and philanthropists, continued to move victims and distribute food, water and other essential things.
The Pakistani army also helps with evacuations. However, residents reported serious difficulties in moving property and livestock. The body of a man identified as Akhtar who drowned while trying to move animals to safety was recovered in UCH SHARIF.
