Philanthropists and NGOs to come forward to help the flood affectees: Mujtaba Shuja

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Finance, Excise & Taxation Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman has called upon philanthropists and NGOs to come forward and help the government in the relief and rehabilitation of flood affectees. He said that Punjab government is taking steps on war-footing in view of the worst flood and all out resources are being utilized for the protection of life and property of the citizens. He said that cooperation of World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other financial institutions is also being sought for this purpose. He said that government will spare no effort for the rehabilitation of flood-hit people.

The Minister directed government officers and district administrations that besides relief activities, assessment of flood damages and losses should be carried out so that financial assistance could be provided to affectees as early as possible.

He was presiding over a high level review meeting regarding flood losses. Member Provincial Assembly Dr. Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Senior Member Board of Revenue Nadeem Ashraf, Chairman Planning & Development Irfan Elahi, Secretary Finance Jehanzeb Khan, Secretaries and senior officers of Health, Irrigation, Livestock, C&W, P&D, PDMA and other departments were present.

The Minister said that government has so far distributed more than 43 thousand tents, 77 boats, 239636 mineral water bottles and about 80 thousand food hampers among the flood affectees. The meeting was informed that 184 persons have lost their lives while 347 have been injured.

Moreover, 7690 houses have been damaged, 2361 villages have been affected. Similarly, crops over 1005862 acres area has been damaged and 353 animals are missing. He said that government is continuing relief activities and 359 relief camps have been established.

It was further told that 8865 flood affectees are staying at relief camps while 1430284 cattle have been vaccinated. The meeting was further informed that 704 health camps have been set up to prevent outbreak of viral diseases and 140330 persons have been evacuated from flood-hit areas and shifted to safer places.

Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman said that Pak-Army, Rescue 1122, police, PDMA, local administrations, elected representatives and concerned departments are working efficiently for relief of flood-hit people. He said that the assessment of losses caused to roads, crops, houses and other buildings due to flood should be carried out at the earliest. He directed that Health Department should provide medical facilities to flood affectees on the spot and also take steps for prevention of viral diseases.

Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman has said that Punjab government has launched biggest rescue and relief operation of the country’s history for the flood affectees and Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif is personally supervising it. He said that helicopters, boats and thousands of relief workers are taking part in this operation.