Karachi, The Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor urged the government to expedite the reconstruction of houses in Sindh and Balochistan, devastated by last year’s mega floods. He emphasized that despite international aid pledges and government allocations, the flood victims have not received the necessary compensation for rebuilding their homes.

According to Pasban Democratic Party, in Sindh alone, the October 2022 mega floods resulted in the displacement of one million people and the damage of over 50,000 houses. Shakoor criticized the government’s inaction and neglect of the flood victims’ plights, stating that no substantial steps have been taken toward the reconstruction of the damaged structures.

Shakoor highlighted the ongoing threat of climate change to Pakistan, noting the lack of precautionary measures against water shortages, droughts, and flooding. He pointed out the absence of new dam and flood canal construction, attributing it to the government’s misplaced priorities. Shakoor accused the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) of dictating the country’s policies, likening their influence to that of the East India Company. He stressed the importance of breaking free from the ‘debt trap’ to achieve true independence.

Furthermore, Shakoor emphasized the need for serious and urgent consideration of the rehabilitation of flood-hit areas, along with the timely release of funds. He asserted that the revival of the agricultural sector, crippled by the floods, is crucial for Pakistan’s economy and could potentially generate millions of jobs and address food inflation. He suggested using modern technologies, like drip irrigation, to transform arid and semi-arid areas into productive farmlands and proposed the construction of new dams, reservoirs, and flood canals for water conservation and agricultural use.

In a separate statement, Shakoor expressed his anguish over the ongoing Israeli bombing in Gaza and the plight of Palestinians. He criticized the United Nations and its Security Council for being ineffective in ensuring world peace and stopping the bloodshed of Muslim populations. Shakoor called for the establishment of new international institutions without veto power and proposed the formation of a ‘Muslim Union’ similar to the EU and NATO to protect Muslim populations worldwide.