• Provincial Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuho, Parliamentary Secretary Muhammad Qasim Soomro, Secretary Local government Syed Najam Ahmad Shah, Secretary Agriculture and others participated in the meeting.
• Chief Secretary Sindh Dr. Muhammad Sohail Rajput said that the flood had caused a lot of damage to the crops of 23 districts of the province.
• Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho said that flood victims in Sindh were being given ration bags by the government.

KARACHI: A six-member delegation led by the Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Program (WFP) Ramiro Lopes da Silva met with the Chief Secretary Sindh on Saturday at the Sindh Secretariat.

Provincial Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuho, Parliamentary Secretary Muhammad Qasim Soomro, Secretary Local government Syed Najam Ahmad Shah, Secretary Agriculture and others participated in the meeting.

On this occasion, the latest statistics on food security and nutrition in Sindh were discussed. Chief Secretary Sindh Dr. Muhammad Sohail Rajput said that the flood had caused a lot of damage to the crops of 23 districts of the province.

He said that Sindh had been exporting rice, but due to rain and floods, the rice crop in the province had been badly affected this year hence it will not be sufficient for the domestic use. He said that efforts were being made to ensure the wheat crop as a programme to give free seeds to the farmers for the wheat crop was under consideration.

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Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho said that flood victims in Sindh were being given ration bags by the government. “There is a dire need to focus on nutrition needs of pregnant women and children up to 2 years in these areas” she said. She further added that the supply of clean drinking water in the flood-affected areas was being ensured with the help of international organizations.

In the meeting, Executive Deputy Director World Food Program Ramiro Lopes da Silva informed the meeting that the United Nations will launch fresh appeal for another $800  million for Pakistan flood victims on Tuesday as  the initial $160 million appeal was insufficient to meet the country’s needs.

He further said that it was difficult to assess the situation in Sindh from the headquarters and after coming here they realized the scale of disaster and that there was a shortage of food. He said that he is going to visit the flood affected areas of Sindh on October 11.

The delegation of the World Food Program assured to provide all possible assistance to help the flood victims in this difficult time. The world food delegation was comprising of Ms. Binta Bajaha special assistant to DED, Mr. John Aylieff, Regional Director Bangkok, Chris Kaye representative and country director, Rathi Palakrishnan deputy country director, Ms Salma Qaqoob officer incharge Sindh.