Flood affected areas would be declared calamity-hit: Zulifqar Khosa

Lahore: Senior Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab, Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa has said that the and recommendations after assessment of damages will be sent to Punjab government. He said that according to the policy of Punjab government, five lakh rupees each will be given to the families of those killed in flood. Pak Army Engineering Corps has been summoned for plugging the breaches in DG canal and the dangerous breaches will be filled in a few hours, he added.

He stated this while talking to media after a briefing from the concerned officers in the committee room of DCO Dera Ghazi Khan. He informed that in 103 year’s history of Dera Ghazi Khan, no hill torrent including Wadoor has caused such a large-scale devastation and according to the sources of concerned department, water flow in Wadoor torrent is 156000 cusecs. He said that no human life has been lost due to flood. He further said that regarding the matter of deliberate breaching of the canal bank, Secretary Irrigation will personally probe the matter and present a report after which action would be taken against the responsible persons. Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa said that since the beginning of the flood, the officers are present in the field round the clock and Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has dispatched 200 tents, 4500 food bags, 4000 bags each of rice and flour to Dera Ghazi Khan and provision of 10000 more bags of food has been assured.

He said that PDMA has dispatched blankets and edible items for the flood affectees while six relief camps have been set up for the affectees where food and other facilities are being provided to them. He said that in order to cope with any epidemic, the World Health Organization has been contacted for the provision of necessary medicines. He said that he will remain in the area along with concerned officers till the complete rehabilitation of the affectees and availability of the record. Replying to a question, Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan said that media should inform the people about the fact and refrain from creating panic.

He said that district administration has been informed on behalf of Punjab Chief Minister that it should spend funds without any discrimination for the evacuation and rehabilitation of the affectees and disposal of water. Provincial Minister for Prisons Abdul Ghafoor, Agriculture Minister Malik Ahmad Ali, DG PDMA Mujahid Sherdil, Secretary Irrigation Khalid Masood Chaudhary, Commissioner Tariq Mehmood Khan, RPO Muhammad Nawaz Warraich, DCO Iftikhar Ali, DPO Ch. Muhammad Saleem, Chief Engineer Canals Ch. Muhammad Shafique and other concerned officers were present on the occasion.