CHEQUES WORTH THREE CRORE RUPEES FOR IDPS PRESENTED TO CM PUNJAB

Lahore: Philanthropists, industrialists and traders met Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif here today and presented cheques for three crore rupees towards Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the IDPs of North Waziristan. Cheques worth one crore 18 lakh rupees were presented on behalf of assembly members of Gujrat, overseas Pakistanis and traders while industrialists, philanthropists and different persons of Lahore gave Rs. one crore five lakh and traders and industrialists of Multan 45 lakh rupees. Member Provincial Assembly from DG Khan Syed Abdul Aleem gave 12 lakh 50 thousand rupees, MPA Bao Akhtar Ali eight lakh rupees, MPA Ch. Shabbir Ahmed five lakh rupees, MPA Ch. Muhammad Ashraf 15 lakh rupees, overseas Pakistanis 67 lakh rupees, President Petrol Pumps Association Ch. Sajid Masood 10 lakh rupees, Atif Jami Grand City five lakh rupees, industrialist Iftikhar Haider five lakh rupees and Medical Stores Association Gujrat five lakh rupees.
Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif commended the spirit of help and assistance of the donors towards the distressed people of North Waziristan. He said that on his appeal well-to-do persons of different walks of life are donating generously for the help and rehabilitation of the displaced families. He said that government is spending every penny of donations on IDPs with honesty. He said that Punjab government has dispatched relief items and medicines worth millions of rupees to the displaced persons while fodder has also been sent for their livestock. He said that financial help is also being provided to the affected families by Punjab government and the first installment of seven thousand rupees per family has been given. He said that financial assistance of 35 crore rupees has so far been provided to displaced families.

The Chief Minister announced that the process of distribution of second installment of cash amount will soon be started for the displaced persons of North Waziristan and seven thousand rupees per family will again be given. He directed Senior Member Board of Revenue to immediately distribute second installment of cash assistance among the displaced persons. Shahbaz Sharif said that rehabilitation of affectees is a collective responsibility and it is time to stand by the IDPs. He said that affected people of North Waziristan who are rendering sacrifices for peace and stability of the country are waiting for help and there is a need for every member of the society to come forward and play his role for providing relief to the distressed people. He said that government and people of Punjab will not leave their displaced brethren alone in the time of need and all out resources will be provided for the help of the distressed people. He said that Punjab government has already announced setting up of a modern hospital, educational institution for children and vocational institute in the affected area after restoration of peace.
The donors while expressing their views said that help and assistance to the distressed people of North Waziristan is a collective religious and moral responsibility. They said that instead of staging protests and sit-ins in Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa government should help IDPs. They said that protests and sit-ins are a conspiracy against economy and people of the country. Provincial Minister Finance Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman, Senior Member Board of Revenue and DCOs of Lahore, Multan and Gujrat were also present on the occasion.