CS reaches Bhawana to probe complaints about provision of financial assistance to flood affectees

Lahore: On special instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, spokesman Punjab government Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Chief Secretary Punjab Naveed Akram Cheema and Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority Ahmed Javed Qazi paid an emergent visit to distribution center Bhawana for scrutiny and verification of complaints regarding provision of financial assistance to flood affectees.

They reviewed procedure of payment of second installment of financial assistance to flood affectees, met the affectees who came to receive pay orders and inquired about the arrangements. Secretary Cooperatives and Incharge distribution centers district Chiniot Babar Hayat Tarar, Divisional Commissioner Capt. (R) Naseem Nawaz, acting DCO Nazar Baloch, DPO Abdul Qadir Qamar and other officers were present on the occasion.

The Chief Secretary ordered that every application regarding financial assistance should be completely scrutinized through honest officers and secret agencies should also be included in this entire process of verification in order to avoid any injustice. He said that all possible steps have been taken for the provision of financial assistance to the flood affectees on their losses transparently in 16 flood affected districts in Punjab for which verification method by other institutions of the survey of district administration has been adopted. He said, however, if any deserving person was not included in the list due to certain reason, he will be compensated.

Naveed Akram Cheema told that monitoring and relief committees comprising retired officers of good repute are working at district and Tehsil level which are taking decisions according to the satisfaction of the complainants. The Chief Secretary while reviewing the complaints of those protesting the other day, ordered immediate suspension of patwaris Muhammad Akram and Nasir Ali of Tehsil Bhawana and thorough inquiry. He said that on the spot an immediate scrutiny of verification of applications of some complainants should be carried out and a report be submitted to him.

Secretary Cooperatives and In-charge distribution centers district Chiniot Babar Hayat Tarar informed that after survey data base of genuine and non-genuine affectees have been compiled and two photo albums of genuine and non-genuine affectees have also been prepared in this regard. He told that when 20 applications of the complainants received on the other day were scrutinized and verified on the spot, they all proved fake and false. He said that those complainants have neither any agriculture land nor their houses were damaged due to flood.

Addressing the flood affectees, Zaeem Hussain Qadri said that on the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, process of provision of financial assistance to flood affectees has been made transparent under a comprehensive system, however, immediate notice and scrutiny of every complaint is being taken and no effort will be spared for the provision of financial assistance to every deserving person for addressing his losses. He told that financial assistance of Rs. 16 billion is being distributed among flood affectees of 16 districts of the province and distribution of such a huge amount is a historic record. He said that the way Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif have reached every affected person during flood is an excellent example of service to calamity-stricken brethren.

Zaeem Hussain Qadri said that respect and dignity of flood affectees have been especially cared during this process of service and besides pick and drop facility, they are being served with water, tea, biscuit, meals at distribution centers. He said that all the applications of the complainants will be completely scrutinized and non-deserving and fake applicants will not be allowed to deprive the genuine affectees of their rights and legal action can also be taken against such false applicants. He directed local administration to verify applications on the spot accompanied by media-men and injustice should not be committed with anyone.

He made it clear to the flood affectees that patwari, tehsildar or any other officer is not authorized to increase or decrease financial assistance for the flood affectees. He said that in this regard a formal policy of Punjab government is being implemented in letter and spirit, therefore, they should not be hoodwinked by anyone and in case of any complaint should directly contact officers of district administration.

On this occasion the flood affectees who came to receive pay orders of financial assistance raised slogans in favour of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and thanked them for their financial assistance and redressal of their losses.