'Transparent system being adopted for providing cash assistance'

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that a transparent system has been adopted for providing cash assistance to the flood affected people while in addition to other facilities, transport arrangements have also been made to bring them to Nadra offices.
He was addressing a meeting held in connection with reconstruction of villages and distribution of cash aid among the affected victims here on Monday, disclosed an official. He also said reconstruction process of villages destroyed by the floods has been started from Muzaffargarh. He directed that maximum sites should be identified in the flood-affected districts for reconstruction of villages.
He also directed that installation of 212 water filtration plants in the flood-hit areas be completed by October 1 for providing clean drinking water to the calamity-stricken people. "In view of the changing weather, a plan should be evolved immediately for the provision of quilts to the flood affected people. Thus, early steps should be taken for providing 50,000 quilts to the flood-hit people in the first phase," he added.
According to him, distribution of cash assistance among the flood survivors has been started in the province and Nadra centres in Mianwali, Bhakkar, Layyah and Muzaffargarh have issued 17,695 Watan Cards so far while the process is being geared up. All hurdles in the distribution of cash aid among flood victims have been removed and lists of all affectees have been provided to the revenue staff and headmasters of the respective areas.
Special buses are being plied to bring flood-affected people to Nadra centres while tractor trolleys are being used for this purpose in the hard areas. The flood-affected people are being informed about the schedule of distribution of aid through mosques, posters, banners, advertisements and local cable network. The ministers have also been deputed to monitor distribution of cash assistance in the flood affected districts while instructions have been issued to hold meetings of the committees comprising representatives of Nadra and other departments and headed by the District Co-ordination Officers of the respective areas on daily basis.
He further said that reconstruction of villages destroyed by floods has been started from Mira Mullan area in Muzaffargarh. He said that a programme is being evolved to reconstruct all the villages ravaged by floods and services of Punjab Rural Support Programme (PRSP) will be acquired for this purpose. He said the Punjab government would fully support PRSP for reconstruction of villages and all the basic facilities will be provided in these innovative models.
He said that PRSP should develop a programme for providing opportunities to the local youth to acquire various skills. He said that PRSP will be provided administrative and political support for reconstruction of new villages and directed that a special committee should be constituted comprising elected representatives, DCOs, and representatives of PRSP, local government, housing and concerned departments for this purpose. He directed the Chief Secretary to identify the villages destroyed by the floods so that co-operation of philanthropists and NGOs could be solicited for their reconstruction.
The Chief Minister said provision of quilts to the affectees is of key importance in view of the changing weather and Senior Member Board of Revenue should formulate an immediate plan for this purpose. He said water filtration plants should be installed in the affected areas by October 1 and the Punjab Chief Secretary should call a meeting of contractors for urging them to complete the project at the earliest. "Punjab Rural Support Programme (PRSP) should take steps to introduce bio-gas technology and solar energy in the affected areas," he added.