QUETTA: The COAS Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that it was the negligence of the authorities to allow construction on the banks of Swat river after the catastrophic 2010 floods.
Talking to the media after his visit to Swat, the COAS said legal action must be taken against those who allowed constructions on the river’s banks.
During the visit, the COAS also met locals and tourists rescued by army aviation helicopters from Kumrat and Kalam.
Gen Bajwa said the army would always stand with the people in difficult times and do its best for relief and rescue.
Talking about relief operations, the COAS said other nations have been contraÂcÂted for provision of tents as Sindh and BaloÂchistan are in dire need.
He also lauded the respÂoÂnse from overseas Pakistanis and said they were sending generous donations to help their countrymen.
Appeals to philanthropists for donations
Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff visited army troops busy in relief activities in far flung flood affected areas of Khairpur and Kambar Shahdad Kot.
COAS spent whole day with flood victims in relief and medical camps established for local population at Village Jilani, Khairpur and Kambar Shahdad Kot.
The flood victims at Khairpur and Kambar Shahdad Kot thanked COAS for reaching out to them and sharing their problems and discomfort due to floods. COAS met troops on ground and appreciated their efforts for bringing comfort to the people awaiting their support. Helping the people of Pakistan in need is a noble cause and we must take pride to serve them to best of our abilities, COAS emphasised.
Gen Bajwa has appealed to philanthropist to come forward and help to their flood victim countrymen,
Meanwhile, to help flood victims of Pakistan, friendly countries have pledged support to Pakistan Relief and Rehabilitation efforts.
4 Military aircrafts from Turkey have arrived at Karachi carrying relief goods. 2 military aircrafts from UAE have arrived at Noor Khan Air Base (NKB) Rawalpindi. 1 military aircraft from UAE will arrive at NKB this evening. 2 aircrafts from China will reach Pakistan in next 48 hours.
Baharain has pledged 1 aircraft to help assist flood victims. The relief goods being brought through these aircrafts include tentage, medicines and food items.
Meanwhile, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, the army chief, visited flood-hit areas in Swat on Tuesday to get an on-ground update about the evacuation of stranded people and relief efforts in Kumrat, Kalam and surrounding towns.
The aviation department of the army designated 82 helicopters for relief work in flooded areas. Some 27 helicopter sorties were carried out to evacuate 316 people and deliver 23.753 tonnes of food and relief items in the past 24 hours. Moreover, 3,540 ration packets and 250 tents were distributed.
The Pakistan Army also established 51 medical camps in which 33,025 patients have so far been treated. The ISPR added its flood relief coordination center was functional with a mandate to coordination rescue and relief efforts in synchronisation with stakeholders at the army level.
Similarly, 217 relief items collection points were established across the formations areas of responsibility for the collection and onwards distribution of relief stores. 122.87 tonnes of food, 5.9 tonnes of sustenance items and 0.15 tonnes of medicines were collected by them so far.
It further mentioned that international flood relief assistance received so far included seven planeloads of relief goods from Turkey, and three from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Two planeloads from China would reach Karachi later today carrying 3,000 tents whereas tarpaulins and shelters from Japan would also reach Karachi.
Canada announced $5 million in assistance, the UK £1.5 million, and Azerbijan announced $2 million, it said.