Karachi, Chairman of the Pasban Democratic Party, Altaf Shakur, called for the immediate release of government funds for the reconstruction of houses destroyed in last year’s floods in Sindh and Balochistan. He emphasized that the victims are still awaiting compensation and assistance for rebuilding their lives, despite significant aid pledges from the international community and allocations by the Pakistani government.

According to Pasban Democratic Party, Shakur highlighted the plight of flood victims, stating that over one million people were displaced and more than 50,000 houses were damaged in the October 2022 floods in Sindh alone. He criticized the government for its inaction and delay in addressing the needs of the affected people. Shakur stressed the urgency of rehabilitation efforts and the importance of fast-tracking the revival of the agriculture sector, which was severely impacted by the floods.

Shakur also suggested the transformation of arid and semi-arid areas into productive agricultural land using modern technologies like drip irrigation. He advocated for the construction of new dam reservoirs and flood canals to mitigate future flooding risks. The Chairman appealed to the caretaker government, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, and the Chief of Army Staff to intervene and ensure the provision of assistance to the flood-affected communities.

Furthermore, Shakur expressed his condemnation of the Israeli bombing in Gaza and criticized the role of the United Nations and its Security Council, suggesting the need for new international institutions without veto power. He proposed the formation of a ‘Muslim Union’ similar to the EU and NATO to address the issues faced by Muslim populations globally.

In his statement, Shakur also addressed the broader issue of climate change and its impact on Pakistan, mentioning the country’s struggle with water scarcity, drought, and flooding. He criticized the lack of action in building new dams and flood canals, attributing it to the misplaced priorities of the government, which he claimed is influenced by international lenders like the IMF and World Bank. Shakur called for breaking the debt trap to achieve real freedom and independence for Pakistan.