Punjab government will continue relief work till complete rehabilitation

Lahore: Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani has said that Punjab government will continue relief work till complete rehabilitation of Awaran earthquake affectees. He said that on the direction of Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, the process of sending relief items worth Rs.9.20 crore under Winter Relief Package for affectees has been started and 40 trucks carrying relief goods have been handed over to Commissioner Qalat Muhammad Akbar Harifaal.

He expressed these views while addressing a press conference at Leedar Rest House, Lasbela, Balochistan today. MPA & Parliamentary Secretary for Literacy Sardar Atif Mazari, MPA Balochistan Prince Ahmed Ali Baloch, Commissioner Qalat Muhammad Akbar Harifaal, Director Punjab Disaster Management Authority Zaheer Ahmed and other officers were present on the occasion. Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani told that relief items under Winter Relief Package included 60 thousand quilts, 30 thousand warm shawls for men and 30 thousand warm shawls for women. He further said that Punjab government has so far handed over relief items worth Rs.28 crore, 70 lacs to Balochistan government. He said that Punjab government has donated Rs.25.50 crore in Balochistan Earthquake Relief Fund which included the amounts donated by Punjab cabinet, MPAs of PML-N, government officers and other segments of the society.

Deputy Speaker said that Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif is determined to continue relief work till rehabilitation of all earthquake affectees of Balochistan. He said that Punjab government will fulfill every demand of Balochistan government in this regard. He said that besides provisions of relief goods to Balochistan, Punjab government is also planning to provide education to male and female students of Awaran and a policy is being given final shape for giving admission to them in medical colleges of Punjab. Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani said that Punjab government is ready to set up a model village in Awaran on the pattern of South Punjab. Earlier, Deputy Speaker inspected the relief goods sent under Winter Relief Package.

PML-N leader & MPA Balochistan Prince Ahmed Ali Baloch while appreciating the relief work being carried out by Punjab government for the earthquake affectees of Awaran said that immediately after earthquake, Punjab government started taking unprecedented steps for rehabilitation of earthquake affectees.