KASUR: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited flood-affected areas in Kasur on Friday, accompanied by senior party leaders and government officials, to assess the damage caused by recent flooding across Punjab province.

 

The high-level delegation included former Prime Minister and PPP Central Punjab President Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider, PPP Central Secretary Information Nadeem Afzal Chan, PPP Peoples Labour Bureau In-charge Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed, and PPP Punjab Secretary General Hassan Murtaza.

 

During his address to flood victims, Chairman Bilawal revealed that the Punjab administration had briefed him on the extensive flood damage. "At present, Punjab is the most affected province and widespread destruction has taken place," he stated, while acknowledging the efforts of Punjab's Chief Minister.

 

The PPP leader emphasized the need for coordinated government response at all levels. "What is needed at this time is that the local government, the administration, the provincial government, and the federal government should all work together to deliver maximum relief to the flood victims," he said.

 

Bilawal outlined a comprehensive three-phase approach to address the flood crisis:

 

 The PPP chairman announced his party's intention to request the Prime Minister to provide immediate assistance to affected families through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), similar to measures taken during previous floods when Shehbaz Sharif was Prime Minister.

 

 Recognizing that Punjab's farmers have suffered the most significant losses, Bilawal called for declaring an agricultural emergency in the province. He urged the Prime Minister to provide farmers with support in seed and fertilizer supply, along with relief in electricity bills and loan installments for flood victims.

 The final phase would involve rebuilding homes and infrastructure, with comprehensive damage assessments of houses, businesses, and infrastructure. Bilawal appealed to the federal government to initiate reconstruction efforts in Punjab similar to the ongoing construction of 2 million homes in Sindh.

The PPP chairman emphasized that his party would stand with the provincial government during both relief and reconstruction phases, stating that "no single government can cope with a calamity of this scale." He instructed his party members to fully assist flood victims and criticized the tendency for political criticism during natural disasters.

 

In a significant diplomatic allegation, Bilawal accused India of violating international law by refusing to honor the Indus Waters Treaty. He claimed that floods originated from rivers flowing from India and criticized the neighboring country for failing to provide timely flood data.

 

"This time we witnessed that India forgot humanity and failed to provide timely flood data. We condemn this attitude of India," he declared. "India is committing water terrorism, which we will never tolerate."

 

The PPP chairman announced that Pakistan is raising this issue at the international level and will compel India to either honor the Indus Waters Treaty or return the rivers to Pakistan.

 

 

Bilawal noted that floods have also caused destruction in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, emphasizing that provincial governments in these regions will also need federal support. "We must support the people. All of us must unite to assist the governments of Gilgit-Baltistan, KP, and Punjab. We will not abandon them," he pledged.

 

 

Concluding his visit, Chairman Bilawal assured flood victims that their demands would be conveyed to both provincial and federal governments. He committed to personally raising these matters with the Prime Minister to ensure swift action on the relief and reconstruction efforts.

 

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari presented a cheque of Rs 10 million to the Red Crescent for the rehabilitation of flood victims on behalf of Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan.

 

 On this occasion, Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan said that during this challenging time, he and the punjab government are committed to a unified response. He said that it is a matter of great sorrow and regret that this year’s floods have given life-long grief to the flood-affected families of Punjab. The Governor Punjab said that the PPP will provide them with all possible help until the flood victims return to their homes. He said that medical camps are being set up in the flood-affected areas by the Red Crescent and along with this, ration, medicines and food items are also being provided. The Governor Punjab further said that the rehabilitation process of the flood victims will continue in collaboration with the Punjab government.