Gilani to convene All Parties Conference on post-flood crises

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has announced convening of an all parties conference to discuss the post-flood crises facing the country. The PM told the National Assembly on Saturday that the loss incurred due to the floods was between five to six billion US dollars while more than 1,600 lives fell prey to the deluge.He said the floods wrought severe devastation in the country, adding that 4,000 kms roads have been swept away while ripe crops on 140,0000 hectares land got damaged. Pakistan Peoples Party is not out to gain political mileage, the PM said, adding that the quorum of the House is complete despite the Oppositions anti-government agenda for the requisitioned session. He ruled out Oppositions allegations that the central government ignored Punjab in disbursing of aid, adding that all the provinces got an equal share of relief fund, the record of which, he said, has been given to the Opposition leader and provincial governments. Reinforcing his statement, the PM maintained that 135 planeloads have been sent to Punjab alone. Earlier, Opposition leader Chaudhary Nisar while addressing the National Assembly said that the Prime Minister should have stuck to his decision of forming an independent body to collect and disburse aid for flood victims. Nisar alleged that not a single penny was given to the Punjab government and that the government has not given its share of Rs20,000 to each flood affected family. He said the government did not hold consultations before setting up the National Disaster Management Commission (NDMC).