I am being threatened by the terrorists: CM Punjab

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that he will live and die with the people and is not afraid of losing his life in the service to the masses. Shahbaz Sharif said that when he was leaving for Narowal, the administration advised him to postpone the visit due to security threat but he said that Allah Almighty has control over life and death. He said that precaution is necessary but he cannot stay away from the affected people in the hour of need.

The Chief Minister said that that he will fulfill all his promises to the people as they had brought a thumping victory to him and his companions in the general elections. He was addressing a function with regard to distribution of cheques of financial assistance among the flood affectees in Narowal district today.

Provincial Minister for Agriculture Dr. Farrukh Javed, Members National Assembly Mian Rasheed Ahmad, Daniyal Aziz, Members Provincial Assembly Khawaja Muhammad Wasim Butt, Rana Manan Khan, Col.(R) Shujaat Ahmad Khan, Maulana Ghias-ud-Din, Ch. Awais Qasim, Senior Member Board of Revenue Punjab, Secretary Agriculture, Commissioner Gujranwala Division and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.

The Chief Minister distributed cheques for total amount of five crore 42 lakh and 61 thousands rupees among the flood affectees as financial assistance. Shahbaz Sharif said that security institutions advised him not to pay this visit but as he believes that it is Allah Almighty Who has control over life and death. He said that it is not possible for him to stay away from those people who brought a historic victory to his party in the general elections.

Shahbaz Sharif said that nullahs and water channels caused heavy damage in the areas of Narowal, Badumali, Zafarwal, Sialkot, Pasrur and Daska during recent flood and torrential rains and standing crops over thousands of acres of land were destroyed, houses were damaged while a number of human lives were lost. He said that he himself saw the scenes of devastation in cities and fields and promised to compensate the losses of flood affectees which he has fulfilled today. He said that a compensation of Rs.30000 each is being given for the houses which were completely destroyed during flood while Rs.15000 each are being given for partially damaged houses.

The Chief Minister said that financial assistance of Rs.4050 per acre is being paid for damage to standing crops while Rs.5 lakh each have already been given to the families of each dead person. He said that recent flood badly affected some districts of Punjab and financial assistance of billions of rupees has been paid to the affectees so far.

Shahbaz Sharif said that energy crisis has badly affected the country during last five years and the economy has reached the brink of disaster while lakhs of people have become homeless. He said that energy problem has caused an irreparable damage to industrial, agriculture and export sectors. But he said instead of paying attention to resolving energy problem the former rulers indulged in massive corruption. He promised to the people that the looted national wealth will be recovered and the plunderers will be brought to justice.

The Chief Minister said that massive development activities have been undertaken in district Narowal during last five years while Zafarwal has been granted the status of tehsil and judicial and administrative facilities have been made available to the people at their doorstep. He said that new colleges have been set up in Narowal to provide educational facilities to the masses while DHQ hospital has been established for providing modern medical facilities to the people of the area. He said that a network of road has been laid to provide better travelling facilities to the people.

Shahbaz Sharif assured the people of Narowal that new development projects worth billions of rupees will be started for providing them modern facilities of life and he will personally supervise it. Senior Member Board of Revenue Punjab Nadeem Ashraf informed that a sum of Rs.600 million has so far been spent for the relief and rehabilitation of flood affectees of the province. He said that the areas badly affected by the flood have been declared calamity stricken and recovery of loans has been postponed.

He said that compensation is being given to the flood affectees for their losses. He said that 109 persons lost their lives in the recent flood in Punjab and financial assistance of Rs.5 lakh each has been provided to their families. He said that on the directions of Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, ten thousands tents and 65 thousand Eid packages have been sent to the earthquake affectees of Awaran district of Balochistan while several members of National and Provincial Assembly of PML-N have visited Awaran and distributed relief items among the calamity hit people.

He further said that the Chief Minister Punjab had also provided his helicopter to Balochistan government for relief activities for the earthquake affectees.