Figures based on guessing of the flood damages should not be made a pretext for the price-hike of essential commodities

          Prior to floods, the Government was making terrorism as a pretext for the price-hike of essential things and now different authorities are issuing different figures regarding damages caused due to flood without waiting for water receding and real assessment by impartial persons. The UNO is calling the World for help and fix a certain figure of cash in dollars. The WB promises certain number of dollars. Similarly, other Countries are sending and promising assistance.

          My fear is that the Government would still consider any amount of dollars insufficient whether sufficient for the damages or not just to have a pretext for the increase in the price of items directly in its control. At present, even during the rescue and relief stage, the various authorities do not trust each other and complain that the other has taken away the whole assistance then how can be certainly said that the assistance/loan etc given in the name of flood affected people would be equitability distributed for the construction of their houses and their rehabilitation.

          It is said that the response of the World Countries is not with such scale as is the magnitude of damages and as was essential. It is for this reason that when the authorities of a Country are not united themselves and have complaints against each other and do not hesitate in airing their sentiments then the rest of the Countries have no compulsion to help the people who instead of caring their people only care about their image and profit.

          It is a general tradition of our Country that in Ramazan the Government authorities set loose the business community to put the curse of the price-hike but at this time, the pretext of price-hike is apparently more in favour of the business community due to floods and damaged intra-structure.

          So far I saw no one riding a luxurious car and fleeing from the flood affected area but the majority of the people are seen with donkeys, carts, on foot and other sources symbolising their poverty. It means that they happen from such areas which were close to rivers due to their poverty, and that is why they were badly affected by the ascending water of the rivers.

          The people live near either to one influential big land owner or another but their condition of life was pitiable. They were already living in such houses which could not sustain the pressure of even low water and that is why melted in the water.

          My concern is that who shall ascertain that the amount given by the International community would go to the pockets of these people who are living in poverty from the centuries. The International Community should also follow up their contributions.

          At present, the UNO, the Government, the Media, the philanthropists, the NGOs, etc are crying the World Community for help but when a sufficient amount is gathered together then everyone would adopt silence on whether the amount collected in the name of the deserved person went to their pockets or not.

           It has been observed that everyone Government finds pretexts for the increase of prices and when such a big pretext like flood devastation is already in the hands then it would certainly put under burden the rest of the Country under price-hike and if anyone protested then would be dealt with the guns and bullets.

          I hope that after this bad situation, the people who have been deprived from their houses by flood would be owners of houses at places much safer from the previous places because construction of houses on the same places would mean that the calamity-hit people have not learnt the lesson from the flood nor the Government was interested in giving them places much secured.

          The International Community is requested not only to help the people of Pakistan but should also supervise and scrutinize the donated amount on the persons and places. The distribution of donated should be equitable so that all may get their share according to their needs.

Manzoor Ahmad Yousafzai

Saturday, 14 August 2010