Financial assistance centers will be established at union council level

Lahore: Chief Secretary Punjab Naveed Akram Cheema has said that 173 centers will be set up in 16 districts of the province for the provision of financial assistance to the flood affectees. These centers will be established at union council level. He said that NADRA, local administration, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Bank of Punjab and other institutions will provide compensation to the calamity-hit people under one roof and in a transparent manner. He said that these institutions will evolve a mechanism with mutual consultation and submit a report to the government whereas four committees have also been constituted for supervising this entire process at district level.

He was addressing a seminar in this regard, here today. Provincial Ministers, Chief Relief Commissioner Nadeem Ashraf, secretaries, commissioners and DCOs were also present on the occasion.

The Chief Secretary said that rescue and relief operation have been highly commendable during the recent flood and the role played by officers and administration was extremely praiseworthy. He said that the same spirit will have to be shown for the rehabilitation of flood affectees. He said that 280 human lives have been lost due to flood and financial assistance of Rs. 16 lakh each is being provided to the families of deceased persons.

Naveed Akram directed that district administration should launch a publicity campaign in this regard and apprise the people of the procedure of payment of compensatory amount. He said that PTA will provide guidance to the flood affectees through SMS while information can also be obtained from the helpline 1129.

The Chief Secretary further said that CCTV cameras will be installed for the monitoring of centers for the payment of compensation. He said that administration will bring the flood affectees to relief centers so that they could easily receive financial assistance.