Zardari, Gilani spend I-Day with flood-hit people

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani have spent the country’s 64th Independence Day visiting flood-hit areas in the country to convey a feeling of empathy to those in misery.

Zardari visited Dera Ismail Khan and Noshera in northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province and reached Muzaffargarh in south Punjab in the afternoon.

Addressing the media, he termed the havoc caused by flood a test of nerves and character for the government and the entire nation. He said that the country had enough food reservoirs and everything would be done to tackle the challenges.

Gilani visited Noshera and handed over a cheque of Rs.50 million ($583,750) to Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province Ameer Haider Hoti for the affected people.

He, along with his cabinet, also broke the Ramadan fast with the displaced people and also distributed gifts amongst the children.

Earlier, in a rare show of government-opposition solidarity, Gilani and chief of PML-N Nawaz Sharif addressed a joint press conference and resolved to undertake all possible efforts for rehabilitation of the displaced people.

They welcomed any help forthcoming from international community but stressed that no begging bowl would be placed before anybody.

They called for keeping political differences aside at this crucial juncture to help those in distress. They also announced to form a fund-raising and rehabilitation authority comprising of experts.