"The Frontier government looks to the Federal government and donor agencies for a key role in this regard," he added. He was talking to a delegation of World Bank headed by Ms Constance A Bernard, Sector Director, Agriculture and Rural Development Unit, South Asia, here at Frontier House. Provincial Minister for Local Government, Secretaries Local Govt: and P & D were also present.
The delegation had asked to be fed on details about national drainage programme because of the peculiar and different geographical location and environment so that the World Bank could sponsor it for promotion of water resources, agriculture, and irrigation and drinking water sectors.
The chief minister said that rains and snowfall had brought immeasurable miseries to the province. There were 400 dead and over 1000 injured and hundreds of thousands dislocated and damaged properties of the hapless people. Eight of the 24 districts had been severely affected and damage to property and loss of lives and injuries were reported in other districts as well.
Durrani said the provincial government was already engaged in relief measures and was trying to get access to the stranded affectees. Compensation has been paid to the affectees and rehabilitation was going on. However, the Frontier government has no fiscal space to undertake the huge rehabilitation process. Therefore, he requested the federal government and donor agencies to help the frontier province in the rehabilitation process.
The chief minister asked donors to help it acquiring snow removing machinery for swift rehabilitation activities. "We want to put in place permanent snow-removing units in areas where there is heavy snowfall". He said that his government was providing foodstuffs and medicines to the inaccessible areas through animal transports and helicopters. He said that the damage would also bring economic alarms to Frontier. Therefore, there should be efforts for the rehabilitation, he added.
Durrani said that he would raise the water promotion plans of the province at Ecnec forum. "If Chasma Lift Irrigation Scheme, Tank Zam and 20 small dams are constructed we would create jobs to the jobless, reduce poverty and lead to economic prosperity. With this, the Frontier province would change from a food-deficit province to a food-surplus area."
He along with Asian Bank Country Director Mashrooq Ali Shah and Committee for Water headed by Senator Nisar Memon and its members had an aerial view of the water potentials of the province who assured him of full backing.
The chief minister said that because of no infrastructure "we could not use our share of water. We have asked the federal government to compensate the frontier government in this regard." He said that the people of frontier province had borne immeasurable burden of refugees after Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. "We shared everything with the Afghans; even the services, schools, hospitals and infrastructure were overburdened".
He said that by hosting millions of Afghan refugees, the people of frontier province set a unique example of humanitarianism, but he lamented that the western media were spreading rumours and wrong impression about MMA government. His government made public welfare oriented policies and good governance. He spoke about his government's reforms in education, health, prison and other sectors.
Constance appreciated the provincial government's steps and assured World Bank help to implement the proposals of frontier government. She also conveyed condolence over the loss of lives, properties etc caused by the rains and snowfall. She assured World Bank help in this regard. She saluted the people of frontier for their matchless services by hosting millions of Afghan refugees.