Gilani, Nawaz agree to set up fund raising body

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gialni has assured all the provinces of all-out support in wake of the flood triggered crises. During a joint press briefing with the PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif on Saturday, the PM said that the provinces should do away with the apprehension that the federal government would abandon them, saying that the federal government would stand by each of the five provinces in this hour of need. The PM said the whole world is ready to extend aid and assistance to mitigate sufferings of the flood affectees. He urged people to donate for their brethren, adding that this act would restore the global communitys trust in us. He said that he and Nawaz agreed to reach to the people together to expedite the rehabilitation process. Later, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif grieved over the situation, saying that the nation is passing through a critical phase and that the cost of losses inflicted by the floods is hard to quantify. I have never seen such massive destruction wreaked by floods in my life, Nawaz maintained. Floods hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan showing no sign of mercy. He said there is no way to avert the damages caused by any natural calamity and called upon the nation to get untied against the catastrophe and thanked the philanthropists for extending donations in this hour of need. He said that political point scoring at such a time is uncalled for and stressed Ulema from all schools of thought to urge unity in their ranks to face the aftermath. Nawaz said, I recommended to the Prime Minister to establish a committee to ensure transparent utilization of funds, and I also notified some names in this regard. He said that the said body would launch a fund raising campaign across the country. He averred that Pakistani nation is resilient enough to meet any disaster. He said that the PM assured him that the federal government would also be a part of an austerity drive launched in all the provinces to use the money on rehabilitation. He called to expedite the rescue efforts. Earlier, Nawaz and Gilani held a meeting to discuss the flood aftermath.