CM presides over meeting of Cabinet Committee on Flood and Cabinet Committee on Price Control

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the biggest relief and rehabilitation operation for the flood affectees is continuing successfully in the calamity-hit areas under the administrative control of Punjab government and thousands of human lives have been saved due to timely and effective measures taken by the government. He said that the districts where 40 percent damage has been caused to villages by the flood have been declared calamity-hit. He said that compensation for the losses will soon be paid to the families affected by flood and the deserving persons will be given their due right.

He was presiding over a joint meeting of Cabinet Committee on Flood and Cabinet Committee on Price Control, here today. Besides relief and rehabilitation activities, the meeting also reviewed prices of essential items.

The Chief Minister said that recent flood was one of the biggest in the history of the province and had caused massive damage. However, he said, the government launched a speedy rescue and relief operation for the calamity-hit people which is still continuing. He said that after rescue operation, there is now a need to pay attention to relief and rehabilitation activities and all concerned departments should perform their responsibilities in this regard with commitment and efficiency. He said that in addition to relief activities, rehabilitation work should also be completed expeditiously in the affected districts.

Shahbaz Sharif said that survey of damages to property, houses and crops should be transparent and authentic and satellite images should also be used for correct assessment of losses in the devastated areas. He further directed that all preventive measures should be taken to control outbreak of viral diseases in the affected areas and spray should also be conducted for this purpose. He said that besides administering polio drops and vaccination of children against measles, protective measures should also be taken against other diseases in the flood-hit areas. He said that the work of rehabilitation of roads and infrastructure should be undertaken on war footing.

The Chief Minister while issuing instructions for setting up committees at district and divisional level for early rehabilitation of infrastructure directed that provincial steering committee headed by Chief Secretary should supervise all this process. He further directed that the committee should hold a meeting on weekly basis to review rehabilitation activities while he would also preside over a meeting of the committee for monitoring rehabilitation activities. He further directed that a comprehensive planning be made and recommendations should be submitted to him regarding drainage of water from the areas which are still inundated especially the nearby villages of Trimmu and Jhang and immediate measures should be proposed so as to adopt preventive measures for the future.

He said that job opportunities can be provided to rural population by utilizing the services of the youth in the rehabilitation activities in the affected districts and a comprehensive plan should be evolved for this purpose. He said that the process of payment to sugarcane growers by sugar mills has been started in Jhang and directed that it should be completed as soon as possible. The meeting was informed that helicopters made a total of 338 sorties during the rescue and relief operation conducted by Punjab government and distributed three lakh 63 kilogram ration, relief items and packets of food among the distressed people during their 377 hours long flights. Similarly, 392 persons were shifted to safer places.

The Chief Minister while presiding over a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Price Control directed to take all necessary steps for keeping prices of vegetables and essential items at a reasonable level. He said that shortage or overcharging of vegetables and daily- use items will not be tolerated. He said that hoarders and profiteers will not be allowed to exploit the poor masses. He said that Provincial Cabinet Committee should play an active role for controlling unjustified increase in prices.

Provincial Ministers Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman, Col. Retd. Shuja Khanzada, Bilal Yasin, Advisor on Health Kh. Salman Rafique, Spokesman Punjab government Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Member Punjab Assembly Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Chief Secretary, Senior Member Board of Revenue, concerned provincial secretaries and senior officers were present in the meeting.

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif presided over a high level meeting here today which reviewed in detail the pace of progress on Chiniot Rajwa iron ore exploration project. The meeting was briefed about utilization of iron ore reserves in Chiniot Rajwa, estimate of their volume and the availability of other mineral resources in the area. Resident Consultant of a prominent German company G.E.O.S Dr. Jurgen Hartsch gave the briefing. Dr. Liu Shuxiang of Metallurgical Corporation of China, Chairman Punjab Mineral Company Dr. Samar Mubarak Mand, Secretary Minerals Punjab Dr. Arshad Mahmood and Project Manager Punjab Minerals Company Shahzad Rafi were also present on the occasion.

The Chief Minister said that there are vast reserves of iron ore in Chiniot Rajwa which can be utilized for strengthening national economy. He said that the project of utilization of iron ore reserves is of vital importance as it will not only accelerate economic activities but new job opportunities will also be created. Shahbaz Sharif expressed satisfaction over the pace of work on the project, however, he directed that it should be further accelerated. The meeting was informed that magnetic survey has been completed as per schedule while work through drilling rigs will be started in the next phase three months earlier than the stipulated period.