Pakistan's PM vows to cope with flood challenge
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Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Saturday expressed the resolve that the resilient Pakistani nation was strong enough to cope with any challenge and would rehabilitate the millions uprooted by the devastating floods.
Addressing the nation on the country's Independence Day, the prime minister said that the people of Pakistan are determined to convert all challenges into opportunities and said all resources have been mobilized to bring relief to around 20 million affected people across the country.
He said that the worst ever floods in country's history have killed 1,384 people and injured 1,630 others and according to initial estimates damaged over 0.7 million homes. However, the government was able to rescue over 0.4 million stranded people.
Prime Minister Gilani addressing the international community said Pakistan's economy had already suffered colossal losses due to relentless war against terrorism.
While the unprecedented torrential rains and devastating flood have destroyed crops and food storages, washed away bridges, roads, communication and energy networks, causing losses running in billions of dollars.
He said relief activities can only be carried out by helicopters, boats and hovercrafts, while due to hot and humid weather, epidemic was a serious threat which can further compound the already grave situation.
Gilani said the scale of destruction by the floods was much bigger than the tsunami.
"I appeal to the world community to extend a helping hand," Gilani said.
He said the floods have played havoc in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and other parts of the country and the political leadership and all government departments were busy to mitigate sufferings of the flood affects.
He said 57 helicopters and 912 boats were evacuating the stranded people to safer places and the government has so far evacuated 398,390 people to safer places.
He said the rains followed by flood initially impacted Gilgit- Baltistan, Khyber Pukhtukhwa and Balochistan and they were the focus of relief work but it had to be stretched across the country as floods entered Punjab and Sindh.
He said the government canceled all Independence Day celebrations to express solidarity with the flood-victims.
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