Punjab government will express solidarity with Pak Army: Rana Mashud

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Law, Education and Sports, Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan has said that Punjab government will arrange “Walk of Cause” at all district headquarters for expressing solidarity with Pak Army which is busy in purging the country of terrorism. He said that the walk will be participated by members of Shahbaz Sharif Volunteer Force for IDPs and a large number of people from all walks of life.

Talking to media-men at a social function here today, Rana Mashhood Ahmed said that Punjab Sports Board is holding fund raiser cricket matches for assistance of IDPs at Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad and Lahore for motivating Shahbaz Sharif Volunteer Force and the people. He said that media should motivate the people to participate in these matches in large numbers. Secretary Information Punjab, Momin Agha and DG Sports Punjab Osman Anwar informed that all the arrangements for fund raiser cricket matches have been completed while display of fireworks will be held on the night of August 14 at Murree.

Rana Mashhood Ahmed said that he accompanied Punjab Chief Minister during his visit to Bannu and saw that IDPs expressed the sentiments of pleasure over arrival of Shahbaz Sharif there. He said that Punjab Chief Minister has announced monthly financial assistance of Rs.7,000 per family for 42000 families of more than eight lakh IDPs. He said that Punjab government has set up Chief Minister Punjab Relief Fund for IDPs with an amount of Rs.50 crore while the remaining amount will be provided by the people voluntarily. He said that Imran Khan has perturbed by warm welcome accorded to us at Bannu by IDPs and is leveling allegations at local level and abroad that federal government is not providing funds to provincial government of KPK.

Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan said that Punjab government had also helped earthquake affectees of Azad Kashmir and Mala Kand Division. He said that people of Punjab had donated Rs.1.75 billion for flood affectees of Sindh besides taking an active part in the relief activities of Awaran and Ziarat earthquake affectees but no one had raised objection against us at that time that why we carried out relief activities without prior permission of concerned provincial government. He said that Punjab government has dispatched 50 trucks of relief goods for IDPs in Bannu but the responsibles of KPK tried to stop them. He said that it is the responsibility of provincial government of KPK to look after IDPs of North Waziristan. He said that Punjab Chief Minister has announced setting up of a specialized hospital, a girls college, a boys college and vocational training institute in Bannu. Similarly, besides provision of veterinary doctors and vocational training instructors as per need, he said that necessary equipment will also be provided in Bannu which has been pointed-out by Pak Army.