Shahbaz Sharif addresses to the steering committee set up for IDPs

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that all out help and assistance will be provided to Pakhtun brethren and sisters of North Waziristan who have displaced in the war against terrorism and they will not be left alone in the hour of need. He said that Punjab government has decided to provide cash amounts to IDPs and arrangements have been completed in this regard.

The Chief Minister announced to launch a vigorous fund raising campaign for the IDPs and said that help to the distressed Pakhtun people is a national, religious and moral obligation. He said that government and people of Punjab will not rest content till complete rehabilitation of the displaced Pakhtun people.

He was presiding over a meeting of the steering committee set up for IDPs. The meeting reviewed the process of provision of financial assistance to the displaced persons of North Waziristan.

The Chief Minister said that help and assistance to the affectees of North Waziristan is a form of worship and every member of the society should play his role in this noble cause. He said that Punjab government has already sent 70 trucks carrying relief items worth crores of rupees for the displaced persons.

He said that the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for IDPs has also been set up and Punjab government has deposited a sum of 50 crore rupees while Assembly Members of Pakistan Muslim League-N have donated their one month’s salary towards this fund.

Shahbaz Sharif said that philanthropists and well-to-do people should donate generously to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and assured that every penny of their donations will reach the deserving persons. The Chief Minister also gave approval to the launching of a vigorous fund raising campaign for IDPs and said that overseas Pakistanis, industrialists, traders, affluent persons and Chambers of Commerce and Industry should be contacted for this purpose.

He also constituted a committee headed by Member Provincial Assembly Manshaullah Butt for contacting overseas Pakistanis and directed that the committee should work hard for collecting maximum funds for IDPs.

Member National Assembly and a leader of Pakistan Muslim League-N Hamza Shahbaz Sharif said that all out efforts are being made for fund raising for IDPs in 36 districts of Punjab and a target of collection of one billion rupees has been set in the first phase.

Provincial Minister for Education Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan said that Shahbaz Sharif Volunteer Force for IDPs has been constituted while fund raising campaign is continuing in all educational institutions of the province. Presidents of various Chambers of Commerce and Industry assured that they will help Pakhtun brethren and sisters of North Waziristan generously.

The meeting was informed that matters have been settled between the Bank of Punjab, Zong and PDMA for the distribution of cash amounts among IDPs.

Member National Assembly Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, Provincial Ministers Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Ch. Muhammad Shafiq, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Advisor Khawaja Ahmad Hasaan, Members Assembly, Chief Secretary, Senior Member Board of Revenue, secretaries of different departments, Presidents of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Lahore, Faisalabad and Sialkot as well as concerned officers attended the meeting.