ISLAMABAD: Minister for Defense Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Friday said flood victims should be compensated timely and without any prejudice.
Responding to a point of order on the floor of the National Assembly, he made it clear that neither the federal nor the provincial governments were distributing flood relief goods on the basis of party affiliation.
The minister said if there was any sort of distinction in some areas, it should be sorted out on priority adding that he would bring the matter into the limelight of the federal cabinet to address the grievances of the respective colleague of the house.
He also mentioned that because of the winter season, it would be quite difficult for the flood victims to spend nights under the open sky.
He said it was the responsibility of the government to provide them shelter before the temperature reaches freezing point.
The government also had given a package for farmers, particularly in those areas which were severely affected by the monsoon rains and flash floods.
He said the government had very limited resources but despite that, it was financially stretching other institutions to provide relief to the flood-affected people.
The minister also lamented that it was the flaw of our political culture that the candidate of the winning party was provided the funds for development schemes while the candidate of the opposition party was not entertained equally.
He said he had experienced this biased practice during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government which did not provide even a single penny to the members of opposition benches because of that the people of their constituencies were deprived of the development work.
He said this political flaw should be eliminated and every member of this august house should be treated equally.
