CM gives cheques to LDA plaza victims’s families

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister, Najam Sethi has said that the fire at LDA Plaza was a tragic incident in which a number of precious lives were lost. He said that some facts have been revealed in the departmental inquiry report while Chief Minister’s Inspection Team is also probing the incident from different angles.

He said that responsibility will be fixed in the light of the inquiry report and in case of negligence the persons responsible will not be spared. He said that no guilty persons will be able to escape punishment. He said that help and assistance to the bereaved families is a humanitarian responsibility and Punjab government will continue to play its role in this regard. He said that provincial government will also bear the educational expenditure of the children of those who were killed in the tragedy.

He was speaking on the occasion of giving away cheques of financial assistance to the families of the victims of LDA Plaza fire at Chief Minister’s Secretariat, here today. Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Secretary Housing, Director General LDA, Commissioner and District Coordination Officer Lahore and affected families were present on the occasion. The Chief Minister gave cheques for Rs.5 lakh each to the heirs of the deceased persons and Rs. one lakh each to the injured.

The Chief Minister said that LDA Plaza tragedy saddened the whole nation and the government equally shared the grief of the bereaved families. He said that legal action will be taken against the persons involved in the incident so as to check recurrence of such tragedies in future. He said that fire at LDA Plaza resulted in a big loss and the government extended maximum assistance to the families of the victims and this process will be continued in future as well. He said that Punjab Education Foundation should be contacted for the education of the children of the deceased persons and meeting their academic expenditure with the cooperation of this institution should be considered. He prayed that may Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and strength to the bereaved families to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude. He said that the families of the victims are indeed passing through an agony and may Allah the Merciful help them in this difficult time. He said that the stricken families should not be forgotten in this hour of need and all out help should be extended to them in accordance with the Islamic teachings. He said that Punjab government has provided all out assistance to the affectees and the doors of Chief Minister’s Secretariat will remain open for them in future as well.

Director General LDA while speaking on the occasion said that a trust has been set up with a sum of Rs.1.5 crore for providing assistance to the families of the victims of LDA Plaza fire. He said that help will continue to be provided to the affected families from the income of the trust. He said that affected families could also become members of the trust. District Coordination Officer Lahore said that fire at LDA Plaza was a tragic incident which grieved the whole nation. Fateha was also offered on this occasion for the departed souls.