Flood-hit areas: Balochistan seeks Rs 3.2 billion for reconstruction

[Salman]

Flood-hit areas: Balochistan seeks Rs 3.2 billion for reconstruction

Balochistan has requested the federal government to approve a financial package of Rs 3.2 billion for the reconstruction of flood hit roads, bridges and allied structures.

A PC-1 on the project titled 'Reconstruction/operation work of Roads, Bridges and Allied Road Structures due to Flood Damages in Balochistan (2010)' was submitted to the Planning Commission.

Balochistan government maintains that prior to the devastating August/September floods the condition of roads was normal and traffic was smoothly plying without any disturbance.

Floods destroyed the road network in many districts of Balochistan.

Balochistan has the poorest road network in the country accounting for 10 percent of Pakistan's road network.

About 40,000 kilometers of road network falls under the National Highways, provincial roads, municipal roads and district roads etc in the province but only 20 percent roads are paved.

The condition of paved roads is not satisfactory and important road network between districts and economic centers is missing.

"This has negative impact on mobility, linkages between rural-urban areas which reduces the prospect for proper economic growth and poverty reduction," Balochistan government says adding that the limited road access and poor road condition also negatively affects the poor people by preventing or reducing timely access to markets, education, health facilities and other social opportunities.

The floods wreaked havoc and destroyed croplands and livestock as well as damaged physical and social infrastructure including roads, water supplies etc and displaced over a million people.

"Rescue phase of flood operation in Naseerabad division, the worst hit by floods in the entire province as well as in Pakistan, is over and is being followed by rehabilitation and rebuilding phase," Balochistan government maintains.

The rebuilding phase is more challenging due to damaged roads, which are the main source of connectivity.

Transportation was severely damaged and all links were broken.

Balochistan government has said that reconstitution work of high flooded roads, low flooded areas and bridges with an estimated cost of Rs 2877.191 million may be approved so that rehabilitation/ reconstruction work may start.