TANK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that collective efforts by federal and provincial governments and departments were necesasry to ensure early rehabilitation of the people affected by flash floods caused by torrential rains.

The prime minister, during his visit to the flood-affected areas of Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, lauded the efforts of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the provincial disaster management authorities over rescue and relief efforts in the affected areas.

During the briefing by Tank Deputy Commissioner Hamidullah Khan, the prime minister was apprised of the ongoing relief and rehabilitation work in the area including supply of food, drinking water to the displaced people staying at temporary shelters.

The prime minister urged the KP government to enhance the compensation of existing Rs 0.8 million for the deceased to Rs1 million to bring it at par with that of the Balochistan government.

“Financial compensation is nothing (comparing the loss of their dear ones) but it will help them live through the challenges of life… This is not competition. This is complimentary. This is our responsibility,” he added.

The prime minister said that the federal government had increased the cash assistance for injured people from Rs25,000 to 250,000 and had also announced a similar compensation of Rs0.5 million for both mud and concrete houses damaged completely and Rs 0.2 million for partially hit ones.