Says under relief package Rs1million approved for families of each deceased person
Provincial Minister for Local Government and Community Development (LGCD) Mian Mahmood- ul-Rashid has said that first the process of rehabilitation of flood victims would be completed and then there would be politics in Punjab.
He said that local bodies elections in Punjab would be held under the Act on which the government and the opposi-tion would agree and not under the Act passed overnight by the former 2 months government. He was addressing a press conference on flood relief activities on Friday here at DGPR. Mian Mehmud said that the entire nation was suffering from the punishment of the regime change operation, that was why transparent and prompt elections were the demand of the entire nation.
He said, “Initially, the federal government was nowhere to be seen in the flood-affected areas of Punjab, now photo sessions are taking place. it is everyone’s responsibility to help the flood victims who are in trouble. We all have to work together to get the flood affected people out of this historic catastrophe.”
Earlier speaking on the flood relief activities, the Minister said that about 9 hundred thousand acres of land had been affected in the districts of South Punjab due to the floods and torrential rains, while 40 people had been killed by floods and 37 people had been killed by the collapse of houses.
He said, “141 people were seriously injured and 2009 people were slightly injured. 390 large animals and 1136 small animals were affected by the flood in southern Punjab.” Mian Mahmoodul Rashid further said that under the relief package of Chief Minister Punjab, one million rupees had been approved for the families of each deceased person while 3 lakhs for each injured person. “A survey of the flood-affected area is being conducted and after the survey is completed, the distribution of relief money will be started among the victims.” he added.
The minister said that the LGCD department started preparation for flood fighting since February this year. It made available 235 de-watering sets, 122 tractor trolleys, 13 sucker machines, 41 generators and 52 temporary disposal stations for the DG Khan Division. He said that almost all departments were engaged in relief activities. “From Secretaries of Union Council to the highest rank officers personally supervised the relief operations.
Even civil society such as Imams of Masajid, NGOs and public representative have been made part of the relevant committees.” The minister ensured that every penny of the relief money would be transparently delivered to the beneficiaries.
After the flood water recedes, the rehabilitation work will begin.
First of all, the flood-affected roads, bridges, passages and infrastructure will be restored and the relevant departments will work together to provide relief to the flood victims. He said that I would again visit the flood-affected areas and review the ongoing rehabilitation process.
He said, “Today, 10 trucks of relief goods are being sent to the flood-affected areas, while 1,000 gas stoves will be distributed among the flood victims. Sets of used clothes are also being sent to the affected areas.”, He said.
Mian Mehmood-ul-Rashid said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan had collected 5 billion rupees to help the flood victims through a telethon just in 3 hours which confirmed him as the most famous leader of Pakistan.
