Chairman Cabinet Committee on Flood Relief & Provincial Minister for Environment Col. (R) Shuja Khanzada has said that an amount of Rs. 15 billion will be distributed among six lakh flood affectees at the rate of 25 thousand rupees per family. He said that the process of distribution of cheques for financial assistance will be started from September 29 and completed before Eid-ul-Azha. He said that the lists of heads of affected families have been prepared with the cooperation of NADRA and its notification is being issued.
He said this while giving a briefing to media about the steps taken for rehabilitation of flood affectees at Civil Secretariat today. Spokesman Punjab government Syed Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Relief Commissioner Nadeem Ashraf, Secretary Irrigation and officers of other departments were present on the occasion. Shuja Khanzada said that Punjab government is thankful to Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif who has given 50 percent of financial assistance for flood affectees.
The Provincial Minister told that 173 centers have been set up at union council level for distribution of cheques among flood affectees and these cheques will be distributed through Punjab Bank. He told that 3-member monitoring committees have been constituted at district level for monitoring of this process. He said that a retired judge will be head of this committee while a representative each of Commissioner and DCO will be included in it. Similarly, one-man Redressal Committee has been constituted for redressing the complaints of flood affectees, he added. Shuja Khanzada said that besides a helpline 1129, a helpline 8800 was set up for auto reply, upon which, head of affected family can confirm his name by writing his identity card number. He further told that five time announcements will be made in mosques on loud speakers.
Spokesman Punjab government, Zaeem Hussain Qadri, told that 281 persons died due to rains and flood, out of which, cheques for Rs. 16 lakh each have been distributed among the heirs of 220 persons whereas payment will soon be made to the remaining families. He told that flood has caused loss of 15 billion rupees to infrastructure and on the direction of Chief Minister Punjab construction work of roads, schools, hospitals and buildings of other departments is being started soon.
Secretary Irrigation told media that 70 thousand acres land is still inundated and water cannot drain out naturally from seven thousand acres land. He told that besides using dewatering pumps, temporary drain is also being constructed for drainage of water from these areas. He told that floodwater will be drained out within three days and the land will be made cultivable.