Khawaja Zaheer Ahmed - PDMA

Finding Presence of sizeable number of foreign personnel at the Jacobabad
Airbase for sometime was confirmed; that may have created a perception of its
inaccessibility for relief goods. The foreign nationals were reportedly employed to
train and assist PAF staff for upgrading facilities, before arrival of the new batch
of F-16 planes, due by December 2010, at that time. However, the number of
relief flights, flown in and out of Jacobabad airport, during August and September
do not substantiate that it remained inaccessible, except on technical grounds of
capacity constraints. The PAF confirmed that the base provided a virtual airbridge
for relief operations, in an area, otherwise cut off from rest of the province
for many weeks; that contradicted the assertion of closure of the facility for relief
assistance.
9. What is the pace of rehabilitation in the flood devastated areas?
Findings The Planning Commission has developed a hard core portfolio of
priority works for restoration of damaged infrastructure at a cost of Rs. 277
billion, in next 3 years. The program has been designed in consultation with
federating units and International Development Partners. It was, however,
conditional to part funding by the DFIs. It contains sectoral / regional schemes for
immediate to short-term execution. The main component of Rehabilitation
programmes include:
a. Rehabilitation of Affectees:
(i) Most affectees have returned to their native places, except in Sindh
and Jaffarabad district of Naseerabad Division of Balochistan
where some relief camps are still operating, as pre-conditions
conducive to revival of life and living have not been restored.
(ii) Compensation of first tranche of Rs.20,000 per household to
rebuild/ repair houses, contributed by Federal and Provincial
Governments on 50:50 basis has almost been completed, except
cases being re-verified for various reasons of imperfect
documentation or cases of observed anomalies.
(iii) Remaining payment of Rs.80,000/ per household is expected to
commence after disbursement of loans from WB/ ADB etc. The
Provinces have used this delay for recertification of the contested
claims.
(iv) Some friendly countries and NGOs have donated / offered
construction of model villages following Build Back Better [BBB]
policy with necessary civic amenities; the work is steadily
progressing on ground.
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