PML-N mistakes concerns for criticism on flood victims, says Shazia Mari

Sanghar (Hasnain Ashiq Saand) Central spokesperson of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), Shazia Mari, has said that raising concerns over the plight of flood victims should not be misconstrued as criticism. She was addressing the media at Jam Nawaz Ali Press Club.

Mari stated that thousands of families in Punjab are still forced to live in tents, highlighting that climate change has made Pakistan one of the most vulnerable countries in the world. She added that understanding the pain of flood victims, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari refrained from celebrating his birthday this year.

The PPP leader informed that in Sindh, 2.1 million houses are being built for flood-affected families, with hundreds of thousands already completed. “Women have also been empowered by granting them ownership of land and industries,” she noted.

Talking about the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Mari said the initiative was launched in line with the mission of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. “BISP has a unique database which not only supports beneficiaries but also helps governments in relief distribution. In 2022, Rs70 billion were distributed among flood victims using this database,” she added.

She emphasized that all provinces rely on BISP data when providing relief packages. She further recalled that Bilawal Bhutto had urged international institutions to extend support to Pakistan in the wake of devastating floods.

“Pakistan is suffering the worst consequences of climate change, and PPP will continue to raise its voice for the rehabilitation of flood-affected families and farmers,” Mari asserted.