Mujtaba Shuja have meeting with banks to pay financial aid to flood affectees before eid

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Finance, Excise & Taxation Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman has said that provincial government will ensure payment of first installment of financial assistance to the flood affectees before Eid-ul-Azha and arrangements are being made for issuing flood relief cards to the affectees for this purpose. He said that public and private sector banks and financial institutions will extend all out cooperation to the affectees. He said that biggest relief operation of the country’s history has been started for the rescue and rehabilitation of flood affectees. Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman said that Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif is personally monitoring relief activities and visiting flood-hit areas on war-footing. He said that the entire nation is standing with flood affectees and all out resources will be utilized for their rehabilitation.

He expressed these views while presiding over a high level meeting with regard to providing financial assistance to flood affectees. Aamir Arshad of Habib Bank, President of JS Bank Khalid Imran, President of Muslim Commercial Bank Imran Maqbook, President KASB Bank Bilal Mustafa, President UBL Wajahat Hussain, President First Women Bank Tahir Raza, Managing Director Bank of Khyber Imran Samad, President Bank of Punjab Naeem-ud-Din Khan, senior officials of other financial institutions, MPA Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Chairman P&D, Secretary Finance, DG PDMA and other officers were also present.

Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman told the participants that 2909 villages and crops over 1690166 acres land have been affected by the recent flood and 34052 houses have been damaged. He told that 240 persons were killed while 2227487 persons have been affected by the natural calamity. He said that government had set up 429 relief camps and 709 medical camps and shifted 526416 marooned people to safer places. The Minister said that medical assistance has been provided to 152679 people and food is also being provided to the affectees. He said that assessment of losses caused to roads, crops, houses and buildings will soon be made. He said that government will continue its efforts till complete rehabilitation of flood affectees. Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman asked senior officials and officers of district administration that besides relief activities assess of losses should be undertaken so that financial assistance could be provided to the affectees at the earliest.