Over Rs.10 bn distributed to Pakistan flood-hit

ISLAMABAD - Over Rs.10 billion have been distributed to flood-affected families in Pakistan through a government scheme called watan card, a minister said Thursday.

The “watan card”, launched by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), makes each flood-hit family eligible to receive Rs.20,000 in cash as part of the government’s flood relief measures.

Tanvir Ashraf Kaira, Punjab province minister for finance, planning and development, said watan cards have been issued to over five lakh families, while seeds and fertilisers have also been given free of cost.

The minister said the overall loss due to floods is estimated at around $9.5 billion, and asked domestic as well as foreign NGOs to help in rehabilitation and reconstruction work, the Online news agency reported.

The floods that started in July killed around 1,700 people and affected more than 20 million.