ISLAMABAD Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that National Oversight Disaster Management Council (NODMC) is constituted through national consensus and is empowered to ensure transparency, accountability and judicious utilisation of the foreign assistance for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of flood-affected areas. Talking to US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, here at Prime Ministers House on Friday afternoon, Prime Minister Gilani informed him that the NODMC comprised people of impeccable integrity and repute and had representation from all the four provinces, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan. The Prime Minister further said that NODMC was completely a non-governmental and apolitical body having backing of all political parties and endorsed by the Council of Common Interests. He added that the NODMC was in addition to the already existing accountability mechanism like the Auditor General and the Public Accounts Committee. The Prime Minister said that it was a matter of satisfaction that all the political parties and civil society organisations were making efforts to help their brothers in these trying times. He updated the US delegation about the current situation in the flood-affected areas. He thanked the US leadership and military for their generous humanitarian assistance to mitigate sufferings of Pakistans flood affectees. He appreciated the fact that the US would be announcing a comprehensive package for the rehabilitation and reconstruction phases in the flood-hit areas during the forthcoming FoDP Ministerial Meeting in Brussels from October 14-15, 2010. He said that the Government of Pakistan was also raising funds through indigenous resources to meet the expenditure required for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the flood-affected areas. The Prime Minister expressed hope that the US would also expedite reimbursement of pledged assistance against Kerry-Lugar Bill and the long overdue payments of Coalition Support Fund. While noting that EU Council had decided the other day for WTO trade concession specifically for Pakistan, the Prime Minister urged the US government for helping Pakistan in lobbying for a positive decision for greater access to Pakistani products in the EU markets. The Prime Minister reaffirmed that despite the catastrophic consequences of floods on Pakistans economy, his Government remained resolutely committed to pursuing the war against terror. Referring to President Karzais recent visit to Pakistan, the Prime Minister stated that he was of firm belief that a peaceful, stable and economically developed Afghanistan was pivotal for the peace and stability of Pakistan, adding his government would continue assisting Afghan Government to achieve these goals. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke stated that he had personally observed unimaginable and incredible devastation caused by the floods during his last two days trip to Thatta and Southern Punjab. He said that the US Government would continue to standby Pakistan in overcoming its economic difficulties and coping with the challenges of rescue, relief, recovery and reconstruction phases. Holbrooke said that US government would now consider giving direct assistance to the Government of Pakistan for its expeditious and optimal utilisation for the flood-affected people and would remain in consultation with the Government of Pakistan about its emergent requirements. The US government hence was focusing on the next FoDP Ministerial Meeting and was mobilising the international community for generating the required funds for Pakistan. US Ambassador to Pakistan Ms Anne W Patterson, Minister for Defence Ch Ahmad Mukhtar, Minister for Interior Rehman Malik, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan, Senator Syeda Sughra Imam, Foreign Secretary and other senior officers were also present in the meeting.