KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to initially released Rs 100,000 to each affected family of Old Haji Camp timber market blaze and ensure complete compensation after assessing the losses and number of families.
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, while chairing a meeting, declared that his government would not leave the affectees in lurch and will make all-out efforts for their rehabilitation.
On the occasion, Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah informed the meeting that the provincial government was committed to compensating the affected people. “But first the losses and the number of the affected people must be assessed,” he said, adding that the government would make the required funds available.
On the other hand, Karachi Commissioner Shoaib Siddiqui said that he had reached the affected locality at 3:15pm. Following that Karachi Water and Sewerage Board Managing Director Hashim Raza Zaidi, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation Administrator Rauf Akhtar Farooqi and the municipal commissioner also arrived on the scene.
Katchi Abadis Minister Javed Nagori told the meeting that he had reached the affected locality at 4am.
“I got the electricity and gas supply to the area disconnected,” said Nagori, “following which I arranged water for the fire engines from a nearby private hydrant.”
CM’s Coordinator Nadia Gabol said she had visited the affected area twice and met with the affected people.
South senior superintendent of police remained in the locality with the police force the entire night to maintain law and order.
CM’s Special Assistant Waqar Mehdi said: “A thorough inquiry into the incident needs to be conducted to ascertain the cause of the blaze.”
He directed Nagori to personally monitor the relief efforts as well as look after the affected families, and the finance minister to release the funds to the city commissioner, who would provide Rs100,000 to every affected family.
“These funds must be released to the people whose names are on the verified list issued by the South deputy commissioner,” he added.
After the meeting the CM contacted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for providing financial support to the provincial government to rehabilitate the affected families and traders.
He also directed the city commissioner to finalise the inquiry into the incident to ascertain the cause of the blaze.
Meanwhile, PPP lawmakers said that a third force was conspiring against democracy, particularly the Sindh government, and the party would thwart such attempts with public power.
MNAs Mir Munawwar Ali Khan Talpur, Imran Zafar Leghari and Sardar Rafique Ahmed Khan Jamali said the third force was using all its resources and “dirty” tactics to derail democracy in the country.
Referring to the timber market fire in Old Haji Camp, the MNAs said the incident was exploited only for political gains by targeting the Sindh government.
