KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said Sunday that the special meeting of Sindh Cabinet has decided to improve coordination among various agencies and departments of the federal and provincial governments engaged in flood relief activities.

He was responding to the queries of the media on the outcome of the meeting which was jointly presided over by the President Asif Ali Zardari and himself at the CM House here.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Interior Minister A. Rehman Malik, provincial ministers and advisors were also present on the occasion.

The Prime Minister said that the Council of Common Interests (CCI) which also included the chief ministers of all four provinces will help in improving the coordination among all the concerned agencies and departments.

He said that Sindh Chief Minister will have interaction with the officials of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and other relief agencies in CCI meeting.

Gilani said that the government is committed to help out flood affectees as much as possible and will use all its resources for this purpose. We have frozen our development budget to last year’s level to create  resources for helping flood victims, he added.

Responding to a question about the payment of Rs 20,000 each to the flood affectees, he said that CCI will take a decision whether to disburse this money before Eid or on Eid.

Gilani said the special meeting has briefed him and the President on the devastation caused by the unprecedented floods in Sindh.

“I had also received briefing during my visit to Sukkur and Kotri barrages. I will also meet President Asif Ali Zardari and Party leaders this evening to get more information on floods”, he added.

The Prime Minister said that Sindh was prepared to handle the flood and therefore the loss of life was minimum here.

Sindh government was ready for rescue operation in flood hit areas, but the unwillingness of people to leave their homes and land had created some problems in some areas.

He said the federal government and its institutions including Pakistan Navy and Air Forces have done a wonderful job in rescue and relief work.

However, he said that the flood was of such a magnitude that none of the country alone is able to handle the destruction.

Gilani said that Sindh was getting maximum medical facilities as one field hospital donated by Saudi government is also established in Thatta. “I have also handed over Railways Hospital to Sindh Health Department. Besides, I have also offered the services of PIMS to Sindh Health Department”, he added.
He pointed out that he has issued orders for an aerial spray in flood hit areas of Sindh and immunisation of all affectees to minimise the chances of any epidemic in the province.

Replying to a question, the Prime Minister said that he had already mentioned on the Floor of the House that he does not have any objection  to  the formation of a judicial commission.

He said people of Pakistan have come forward in a big way to help their affected brethren in time of need and he appreciates this spirit. They have been generously raising funds for flood victims, he noted.

To a question, he said that the date of holding an all party conference will be announced after consultation with all the political parties.

Prime Minister Gilani condemned the suicide attack in Lahore and Quetta at a time when the country was passing through a critical time they are the enemies of Islam and the country.

“I have asked the Interior Minister to immediately visit Balochistan to discuss and sort out strategy to combat terrorism there.”

KARACHI: Authorities were Sunday trying to protect another town from floodwaters in Sindh province, as the nation continues to grapple with its worst natural disaster in living memory.

A month after monsoons caused devastating floods throughout the country, submerging an area the size of England, eight million people remain dependent on handouts for their survival, which many say are too slow coming.

Surging floodwaters continue to threaten towns in Sindh, where 19 of its 23 districts have been deluged and more than one million people displaced.

“We are trying our best to protect Johi and Seeta Road towns, threatened by ravaging floodwaters,” district administration chief Iqbal Memon told AFP.

The town, which is 315 kilometres (195 miles) north of Karachi, has a population of 60,000 and officials fear that floodwaters will breach surrounding embankments unless they are quickly strengthened.

“The floodwaters are fast heading towards Johi town after inundating most parts of Khairpur Nathan Shah town and Mehar town and several surrounding villages in Dadu district,” he said.

“We are right now employing all available means to strengthen the protective embankments around Johi but the threat still remains,” he said, adding that 70 percent of the town’s population had already fled to safer areas.

Memon said 90 percent of the people of Khairpur Nathan Shah, Mehar town and surrounding villages, which had a joint population of around 300,000 had fled to nearby towns that have been spared by floods.

“However, a few thousand people who remain stranded in Khairpur Nathan Shah, Mehar town and surrounding villages are being evacuated to safety by naval boats and helicopters”.

“I have been stranded here with at least 10 other villagers since yesterday after water inundated our village and we immediately need help and food,” Usman Qureshi, resident of a small village near Khairpur Nathan Shah village, said.

Qureshi told AFP by mobile phone: “We need help, water and food… We beg you to please contact rescuers and ask them to evacuate us,” said Qureshi, who took shelter at the lone two-storey building in the village.

Meanwhile, army troops rescued 300 people from the flooded Jati town and 47 from Khairpur Nathan Shah to safer places, the military said in a statement.

While the international community has donated 700 million dollars, domestic anger has been mounting against the widely unpopular civilian government, which has come under fire for its handling of the crisis.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday told the lower house of the federal parliament that relief efforts would be extended to six months.

He said that early recovery phase shall be completed by December 30, while damage and need assessment by World Bank and Asian Development Bank would be completed by September 30.

The World Bank has raised flood aid to Pakistan to one billion dollars, while the IMF has approved 450 million dollars in emergency financing to help the nation cope.

The Organisation of the Islamic Conference on Thursday appealed to Muslims everywhere to direct their zakat tithes — donations required under Islam — to relief for Pakistan, rather than leave Pakistanis “alone to their fate”.

However, the UN has warned that the slow pace of aid pledges could impede relief operations and says Pakistan faces a triple threat to food supplies — with seeds, crops and incomes hit.

The floods have ruined 3.6 million hectares (8.9 million acres) of rich farmland, and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said farmers urgently needed seeds to plant for next year’s crops.

Prime Minister Gilani warned Wednesday that the country faced inflation of up to 20 percent and slower growth because of devastating floods, which wiped out crops and killed 1,760 people.

Disaster officials have said that number of deaths will likely rise “significantly” when the missing are accounted for.

WANA: At least six militants and three security men were killed in fighting in South Waziristan tribal region. Eight security were injured in the clash.

According to sources, the militants attacked with rockets and automatic weapons at a security post in the vicinity of Wana, the chief town of South Waziristan tribal region.

Three security men were martyred and eight others injured in the attack. The forces in counter attack killed six militants and injured several others.

GHALANAI: The death toll from twin suicide bombing in Yakaghund has soared to 105, Assistant Political Ageng Mohmand tribal region here said.

He said that 105 have been killed in the deadly attack on Friday, while around 120 have been injured and admitted at various hospitals. Ten injured persons have been in precarious condition.

It was this year’s deadliest attack in Pakistan.

Video footage showed dozens of men searching through piles of yellow brick and mud rubble for survivors. Women and children were among the victims.

ISLAMABAD: Higher Education Commission (HEC) has declared educational degrees of 13 more parliamentarians, including two federal ministers, fake or suspicious.

Eight universities have so far returned educational degrees of 62 parliamentarians after scrutiny, out of which 13 are considered to be fake or suspicious of being faked, the channel added.

Educational credentials of Minister for Postal Services Mir Israrullah Zahri and Minister for Livestock Mir Humayun Aziz Kurd were found suspicious in the initial scrutiny as these were not issued by the universities authorized by the HEC,  sources told the news channel.

Among others considered to have fake degrees include Senator Nawabzada Muhammad Akbar, Senator Wali Muhammad Badeni, MNA Javed Hassnain Malik, MNA Mazhar Hayat, MNA Wasim Afzal, MPA Punjab Abdul Qayum, MPA Khyber Pakhtoonkhuwa Gulistan Khan, MPA KP  Abdul Samad and MPA Balochistan Rubina Zafar Zahri.

According to HEC officials, University of Sindh has declared at least six degrees suspicious out of total 160 sent to it for verification. However, the media is not being informed of the names of the parliamentarians who own these degrees.

LAHORE: The journalists observing countrywide black day today to protest over the resolution passed in the Punjab Assembly against the media.

The journalists bodies have announced protest after passage of resolution in provincial assembly and manhandling of the newsmen who were protesting against it.

The journalists bodies will hold protest gatherings at various cities and towns.

Sanghar lawyers have also decided to hold districtwise protest against the anti-media resolution of Punjab Assembly.

BEIJING: President Asif Ali Zardari has reached Shanghai in second leg of his China visit.

The President will visit Shanghai Expo and will also address Pak-China alternate energy forum.

Pakistan and China on Friday signed four MOUs in health, power generation and building of two major highways in Gilgit-Baltistan.The MoUs were signed after the address of President Asif Ali Zardari to the Pak-China Economic Cooperation Forum. Under the agreement China will build the 165 km long Jaglot-Skardu road and the 135 km long Thakot- Sazin road. The projects would cost Rs 45 billion with 15 percent financing by Pakistan and 85 percent by China.

Under another MoU to be jointly executed by Chinese company Datang and Norwegian company EBT, 500 MW electricity would be produced through wind power. The wind turbines would be set up along the coastal areas of Karachi and Sindh at a cost of one billion US dollars and will be completed in short span of time.

The MoUs were signed by Chairman National Highway Authority with his Chinese counterpart and witnessed by the President.

LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Friday passed a resolution accusing the media of “irresponsibility that is damaging the democracy.”

The resolution introduced in the assembly by Sanaullah Mastikhel, a member of Muslim League (Nawaz), said some media programmes being used for propaganda against political leaders and democratic and public representatives being maligned. The resolution said the objectionable footages of women members of assemblies attached with Indian songs is a worst example.

The resolution stressed the media representatives to observe impartiality in coverage, avoid insulting attitude against legislators, discourage baseless reports and demonstrate responsibility.

GHILANAI: The death toll in suicide attack at the office of political tehsildar in tehsil Yakka Ghund of Mohmand tribal region has soared to 48, while around 70 persons were injured in the incident and admitted at Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar and other hospitals.

Around 15 injured said to be in critical condition. The authorities have imposed curfew in the area after the attack.

Suicide attack at the gate of the office of political tehsildar in Yakka Ghundent in lower Mohmand was occurred when a large number of people were present in the office.

According to reports, a motorbike rider wanted to enter in the office was stopped at the gate, where he blew up his explosives leaving deep crater at the ground.

The office of the political tehsildar has been located in a market area in tehsil Yakka Ghund. The attack took place when aid was being distributed among the affected persons of the Orakzai operation.

The  blast razed around 50 shops to ground and several people trapped under the debris.

The blast also damaged nearby jail building and several vehicles. According to reports 28 inmates of the jail also escaped after the blast.

Some of the deceased in the attack have been identified as Mohammed Kabir, Akhtar, Khaista Gul, Jan Agha, Karamat Khan, Khyber Khan, Azmatullah, Haji Sikandar and Murtaza.

At least six children and three Khasadar Force men were also killed in the bomb attack.

LAHORE: Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that the river water dispute can be taken to the Council of the Common Interests (CCI).

Talking to newsmen outside Punjab Assembly, Sanaullah said that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif will meet Prime Minister Gilani next week and hopefully the matter will be resolved in the meeting.