Flood destroyed crops worth Rs 82 billion in Punjab: Shahbaz

Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has said that the worst-ever flood in the history of Pakistan has devastated crops worth Rs 82 billion in Punjab while a number of towns and villages have also been wiped out. He was addressing the flood-hit people during his visit to flood-affected districts of Jhang, Chiniot, Muzaffargarh and DG Khan, a handout issued here on Monday said.
He went to the tent villages and met calamity-hit people individually. He personally took part in the relief activities for provision of dry ration to the marooned people of Khangarh and adjacent areas and delivered 2,000 kg relief items by his helicopter. He said about Rs 15 million people have become homeless while the economy has also suffered a serious setback due to which the problems of the country have aggravated.
He announced provision of seed and fertilisers to the farmers of the flood-hit areas before cultivation of Rabi crop and said that every effort would be made for enabling the cultivators to stand on their own feet. He said health facilities will be extended through mobile dispensaries and hospitals to the people of the areas where basic health centres and rural health centres have been destroyed.
Addressing the government officers, the Chief Minister urged them to serve the humanity in distress with a religious spirit, as it is a means of earning the blessings of Allah Almighty. He said he is personally supervising the relief and rehabilitation activities in the areas, which have been severely affected by the flood.
In response to the demand of flood affectees, he issued orders for provision of 150 packets of edibles immediately in Bela Jodhianwala. He directed DCO and district administration to make every effort to ensure supply of edible items and treatment facilities through boats to the people of the villages situated on the banks of the river till complete receding of water.
Earlier, during a briefing given by district administration in Shorkot about flood damages, the Chief Minister was informed that 393 villages were inundated in the riverine area of Jhang due to which cotton, rice and sugarcane crops over 78,603 acres of land were destroyed. Members Provincial Assembly Muhammad Azam Chela, Iftikhar Ahmed Khan, Sultan Sikandar Bharwana and Hassan Murtaza were also present on the occasion--PR