Senate panel declares floods ‘national disaster’ | The Express Tribune

ISLAMABAD:

Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan has declared the recent floods a national disaster and called on the government to officially designate affected areas as disaster-hit.

He further urged immediate assistance for victims through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).

The Senate committee, under Senator Ahsan’s chairmanship, met to review a wide range of urgent national food security concerns.

The chairman of the Rice Exporters Association raised alarm over the sharp decline in Basmati exports, citing interruptions in shipments to European Union countries. Senator Danesh Kumar also criticised restrictive government policies, saying, “Policies must support the economy and exporters”.

The committee decided to consult all key stakeholders before finalising the National Agricultural Food Security and Safety (NAFSA) Ordinance. Senator Ahsan directed stakeholders to submit their recommendations ahead of the next session.

Flood devastation

Officials from the Ministry of Food Security briefed that 2.5 million acres of farmland had been damaged nationwide by the floods.

In Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 7% of agricultural land was severely affected, while KP alone lost 3.5 million acres. Crops hit hardest included rice, sugarcane and maize in Punjab.

Declaring the floods a national tragedy, Senator Ahsan said: “Heart-wrenching floods caused vast devastation, damaged crops worth millions”.

He reiterated his demand for the government to declare affected areas disaster-hit and provide BISP cash assistance immediately.

The committee also debated inter-provincial restrictions on wheat supply. Senator Aimal Wali Khan protested shortages in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying the province’s share was being unfairly withheld.

Senator Danesh Kumar echoed the concern for Balochistan, stating: “People in Balochistan face the same discrimination. This is triggering national disintegration.”

Senator Ahsan strongly appealed to uphold Article 151 of the Constitution, which guarantees free trade among provinces. “Trade and commerce must flow freely between provinces. These restrictions are unconstitutional and go against national integrity,” he asserted.

Committee directions

Summarising the discussion, Senator Ahsan issued several firm directions. He ordered that the notification of the DG DPP demotion be issued within 48 hours.

A subcommittee will carry out a thorough investigation into officers’ inquiries, while third-party audits will be conducted of DPP aircraft operations and budget allocations. Rice export concerns are to be reviewed and the finalisation of the NAFSA Ordinance will follow stakeholder input.