Rehabilitation of flood-hit people: Punjab government seeks cooperation of World Bank and ADB: minister

Provincial Minister for Finance, Excise and Taxation Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, has said the Punjab government is seeking co-operation of World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other financial institutions for rehabilitation of the flood victims.
He was presiding over a high level review meeting regarding flood losses and relief operations here on Thursday. Member Provincial Assembly Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Senior Member Board of Revenue Nadeem Ashraf, Chairman Planning and Development Irfan Elahi, Secretary Finance Jehanzeb Khan, Secretaries and senior officers of Health, Irrigation, Livestock, C&W, P&D, PDMA and other departments were present.
The minister said the government has, so far, distributed more than 43,000 tents, 77 boats, 2,39,636 mineral water bottles and about 80,000 food hampers among the flood affected people. Over 184 persons have lost their lives while 347 have been injured. Moreover, 7,690 houses have been damaged, 2,361 villages have been affected. Similarly, crops over 1,005,862 acres area have been damaged and 353 animals are missing.
He said the government is continuing relief activities and 359 relief camps have been established. Over 8000 flood victims are staying at relief camps while 1,430,284 cattle have been vaccinated. Over 700 health camps have been set up to prevent outbreak of viral diseases and 1,40,330 persons have been evacuated from flood-hit areas and shifted to safer places. Rehman said that Pak Army, Rescue 1122, police, PDMA, local administrations, elected representatives and concerned departments are working efficiently for relief of flood-hit people.
He said that the assessment of losses caused to roads, crops, houses and other buildings due to flood should be carried out at the earliest. He directed Health Department to provide medical facilities to flood affected people on the spot and also take steps for prevention of viral diseases. Rehman said the Punjab government has launched biggest rescue and relief operation of the country's history for the flood affected people and the Chief Mininster is personally supervising it. Helicopters, boats and thousands of relief workers are taking part in this operation.