Shahbaz Sharif presides over a meeting of Cabinet Committee for Flood

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting of Cabinet Committee for Flood for three hours late at night. A briefing was given by various departments with regard to rescue and relief operation during the meeting. The Chief Minister arrived at Lahore at 9.00 p.m after visiting flood-hit areas for twelve hours today and presided over the meeting of cabinet committee. During the meeting, he also addressed the administration of Multan through video link.

Addressing the meeting, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that all precautionary measures should be taken for coping with the flood situation in Multan and south Punjab. He said that all necessary steps should be taken for shifting the people to safer places. The Chief Minister directed that the repair work of affected roads should be started immediately after receding of water. He said that all preventive measures should be adopted in view of possible spread of epidemic diseases in affected areas. He directed that steps should be taken for destroying the carcasses properly. He said that an effective and digital monitoring system should be evolved for monitoring the performance of staff in the field. Shahbaz Sharif directed that cooked meal should be provided to the affectees. He said that immediate survey will be started for the compensation of losses of affectees.

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that biggest rescue and relief operation of the history of the country is continuing for flood affectees under Punjab government. He said that helicopters, boats and rescue staff in thousands are taking part in this operation. He said that more than one lakh 24 thousand people have been shifted to safer places so far. The Chief Minister said that 360 relief camps and 704 health camps have been set up in affected districts. He said that about eight thousand people are staying in relief camps and they are being looked after properly. Shahbaz Sharif said that more than 55 thousand food hampers have been distributed among affectees whereas one lakh mineral water bottles have been provided to them. He said that 38 thousand tents have been sent to affected districts whereas all boats and staff of Rescue 1122 are carrying out relief activities. He said that Pak-Army, Rescue 1122, police, PDMA, local administration, elected representatives and concerned departments are taking active part in rescue and relief operation.

Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif visited flood-hit areas of Basti Qadirabad of Mandi Bahauddin, Tehsil Bhawana, adjoining villages and Tehsil Lalian of Chiniot today. He presided over a high level meeting at Multan which reviewed flood situation in South Punjab. The visit of Chief Minister was spread over 12 hours. Shahbaz Sharif fulfilling his promise again visited Basti Qadirabad of Tehsil Phalia. He had visited Qadirabad two days ago and at that time people had protested over poor arrangements. The Chief Minister had promised the people that he will again visit to review the arrangements. Today, as per promise he visited Qadirabad to review the arrangements and took briefing from the administration. He was told that boats have reached to accelerate relief activities for affectees. On this occasion, Shahbaz Sharif said that he is happy to see better arrangements for affectees in Qadirabad today. He said that if administration continued relief activities with the same spirit, this natural calamity can be overcome. He said that flood is a big test and we have to cope with it through joint efforts. He said that Pak-Army, Rescue 1122 and other concerned institutions are working actively.

Chief Minister visited Mauza Salman, Haweli Mubarrak Shah, Thatha Muhammad Shah, Ram Din Khooh and other adjoining villages of Tehsil Bhawana by boat and reviewed relief activities. He distributed relief items among affectees and shifted marooned people to safer places. Shahbaz Sharif brought two children to safer place by his boat and personally supervised relief activities. Evacuation work of marooned people of eight affected districts has been completed, he added. The Chief Minister said that due to timely action by Pak-Army, Rescue 1122, police, district administration and concerned departments, hundreds of precious human lives have been saved and thousands of animals have been shifted to safer places. He thanked Pak-Army, Rescue 1122, police and administration.

Shahbaz Sharif visited Dawar, Pathankot, Thatha Mian Lala, Thatha Umar, flood-hit villages of Lalian, Chiniot and adjoining areas and reviewed the flood situation and relief activities for affectees. He said that shifting the people to safer places is top priority and evacuation of people from 90 percent villages has been completed. He said that government has released 10 crore rupees to each affected district for relief activities. He said that three helicopters are distributing relief and other eatable items among affectees. The Chief Minister personally reviewed flood situation and relief activities by visiting affected villages and issued on the spot instructions. He met affectees in relief camps and reviewed the facilities being provided to them. He directed that it is not sufficient to provide treatment to the patients locally, therefore, MPA should personally take them to the hospital. He said that compensation of losses will be paid to the affectees before drainage of water.

The Chief Minister said that every person of the society should come forward for the assistance of affectees in this hour of trial. He said that political and administrative team should spare no effort in helping the affectees. Shahbaz Sharif said that he will not rest content till the rehabilitation of affectees and providing comfort to them. He said that carcasses should be removed on emergent basis from those areas where water is receding and before the return of residents to the areas, spray of insecticide should be conducted and foolproof arrangements should be made for the treatment of animals.

Talking to flood affectees during his visit, the Chief Minister said that he was surprised how Imran Khan realized to visit flood affectees after seven days. He said that delay in worship is possible but there is no room for delay in service. He said that those visiting flood-hit areas after seven days are, in fact, unaware of human miseries. Shahbaz Sharif said that it would be better that during the visit of flood-hit areas, there should be relief items for marooned people in the hands of Imran Khan and his supporters instead of party flags. Shahbaz Sharif distributed relief items among affectees during his visit to affected areas while travelling by helicopter and despite backache, he kept standing in the helicopter for one hour.

The Chief Minister reached Faisalabad while distributing relief items through helicopter during visits to affected areas from where he went to Multan and presided over a high level meeting which reviewed flood situation and preventive measures in Multan and other districts of South Punjab.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that he never saw such a big flood in his practical life. He said that elected representatives and administration should remain fully alert for coping with flood situation in South Punjab. Shahbaz Sharif said that he will come daily and there will be no elected representative or officer with him, therefore, everyone should discharge his duty regarding relief activities. He said that he will himself conduct visits.

The Chief Minister said that the evacuation of the people from villages near river should be ensured at every cost. He said that every human life is precious, therefore, administration should take all possible steps for protection of human life. He said that government will take action against those people living in villages near rivers who will not shift to safer places. He said that two helicopters each will be provided to Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan. He directed that relief camps should be set up immediately in Multan and other districts of South Punjab. Shahbaz Sharif said that he visits every village and city the whole day to review flood situation whereas a strategy is adopted on daily basis with regard to relief activities in the cabinet committee meeting late at night. Shahbaz Sharif has provided his own helicopter for the relief activities for affectees.

The Chief Minister sent his helicopter to affected areas immediately on the return of staff from training. Relief items were sent by helicopter to Mauza Salman, Haweli Mubarrak Shah, Thatha Muhammad Shah, Ram Din Khooh of Tehsil Bhawana and Dawar, Pathankot, Thatha Mian Lala, Thatha Umar and other flood-hit villages of Lalian.