Construction of 3,100 houses completed for flood-affected people in Sukkur

SUKKUR: The construction of 3,100 houses for flood-affected people in District Sukkur has been completed by the Sindh government, as part of a larger project of 83,417 houses under the Sindh People’s Housing Scheme for Flood Affected People.

Sindh Minister for Energy, Planning & Development Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, spokesperson for Sindh government and Mayor Sukkur Barrister Arsalan Islam Shaikh, and Chairman District Council Syed Kumail Haider Shah handed over the keys and ownership documents to the beneficiaries.

A ceremony was held in the village of Peer Muhammad Jagirani near Rohri on Friday regarding the distribution of houses among flood affectees, where Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, Mayor Barrister Shaikh, and Chairman District Council Kumail Haider Shah distributed house keys and ownership certificates to 100 flood affectees. Deputy Commissioner Sukkur MB Rajar was also present on the occasion.

Speaking to the media, the minister said that under the guidance of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Sindh government has launched a massive housing project, aiming to construct 2.1 million houses for flood affectees across the province. This project will bring relief to around 10 million people in Sindh and is expected to be completed within two years.

He noted that while floods had affected hundreds of thousands of people in other provinces, only the Sindh government, led by the Pakistan Peoples Party, was actively engaged in rebuilding homes. He mentioned that bank accounts for 800,000 families had been activated, and the process of transferring funds in installments had begun. Some families had received one or two installments, while others had received their third or fourth installment.

He stressed that along with the chief minister of Sindh, their goal was to ensure transparency in the project, enabling flood-affected families to have a secure roof over their heads. Further, he mentioned that Hands is overseeing construction of homes for flood-affected individuals in Sukkur, with financial support from the Sindh government, World Bank, and other organizations. He emphasized that the construction process prioritizes essential amenities like water supply, drainage, sanitation, and healthcare facilities to ensure a healthy living environment.

Speaking to the media, Barrister Arsalan Islam Shaikh said that the PPP’s Sindh government, under the leadership of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, was fulfilling its promise to provide homes to flood affectees. He said the construction of 2.1 million homes was a clear testament to the fact that the Peoples Party believed in serving the people. The People’s Housing Project will not only provide shelter to the affected people but also create employment opportunities. “Building a robust infrastructure to mitigate the impact of future natural disasters and floods is our foremost priority,” he added.

The minister along with others conducted an inspection of the housing project being constructed for flood affectees. During the briefing, it was revealed that the construction targets for the Sukkur district include 83,417 houses, with 12,819 houses planned for Taluka New Sukkur and Sukkur City, 26,515 houses being built for flood victims in Taluka Rohri, 27,119 houses targeted for Pano Akil taluka, and 16,954 houses under construction in Saleh Pat taluka. Thereafter, the minister also visited Targhati village and inspected the newly constructed homes for flood affectees. They also distributed house keys and ownership documents to the deserving beneficiaries.

In response to a question, the minister said that whoever comes on merit, the Peoples Party has given them employment, despite facing obstacles and having to answer in courts. He said we have been giving jobs on merit, and no injustice will be done to the candidates who passed the IBA test. He said their process is ongoing, and they don’t need to protest as the Sindh government is working on it.

Addressing the issue of electricity tariffs, the provincial minister expressed concern that the current rates are beyond the means of ordinary citizens, and excessive billing is a major concern. To address this, a specialized cell has been set up within the Energy Department to facilitate the reconciliation of electricity bills for average consumers and address their complaints.

He mentioned that President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari have held talks with the federal government regarding electricity tariffs, and he is hopeful that a solution will be found to ease the burden on the public. He stated that if the IMF has set a condition, the federal government should offer an alternative solution. He emphasized the urgent need to revisit the IPP agreements.

He clarified that there is no emergency situation in the country. If the courts make such decisions, it creates a perception of emergency among the public. We have always supported democracy, and hopefully, democracy will continue to thrive in the country. Regarding the motorway project, he clarified that the Sukkur-Hyderabad motorway is a vital project that has not been scrapped.