Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif visited flood-hit areas of tehsil Pindi Bhattian of Hafizabad, Shahpur of Sargodha, tehsil Phalia of Mandi Bahauddin, tehsil Wazirabad of Gujranwala and tehsil Sambrial of Sialkot for 10 hours. He also reviewed arrangements at the centers set up for the payment of financial assistance to flood affectees and distributed a sum of Rs 25,000 each as the first instalment of the compensation to the flood affectees.
Addressing the flood affectees, public gathering and public meetings, Shahbaz Sharif said the process of payment of Rs 25,000 as the first instalment of compensation for the damage to the houses of flood affectees has been started and the deserving persons will be given their right. He said the payment of second instalment of relief assistance will start from October 20 after survey of losses of property and crops. He said the Punjab government as per its promise has started distribution of relief assistance before Eid ul Azha and every effort will be made to complete the process of payment of the first instalment before Eid ul Azha. He said the Pakistan Muslim League-N believed in fulfilling its promises. He said the recent flood was the biggest after 1973 and caused massive destruction. Shahbaz Sharif said that he continuously visited flood-hit areas and while he paid visits to calamity-hit areas in the morning, he held meetings at night to improve the situation. The Chief Minister said he was personally supervising the process of payment so that no flood affectee is deprived of its right. He said the government was giving financial assistance of Rs 25,000 each to heads of all families without any discrimination while the payment process of second instalment will start from October 20th after survey of losses of houses and property, crops and cattle. He said the payment of second instalment will be completed by end of October.
The Punjab Chief Minister while complaining to the media in soft words for showing those sitting in sit-ins, said that did anyone question those sitting in containers why they do not go to flood-hit areas to express sympathy with the flood affected people. He said due to sit-ins, energy and other projects of billions of dollars to be executed with the co-operation of China have been delayed. He said even an enemy did not do such act with the country and the nation as have been done by those staging sit-ins. Shahbaz Sharif said that he was deeply grieved over the loss of human lives and property due to flood and losses of affectees will be compensated. He said the government will not leave flood affectees alone. The Chief Minister said that those helping the brothers and sisters in distress are earning blessing of Allah Almighty. Shahbaz Sharif while expressing anguish over a large number of vehicles during his visit to Pindi Bhattian reprimanded the Commissioner of Gujranwala Division, DCO Hafizabad and the administration, said this is not a marriage function that you have brought a caravan of vehicles. All of you should have come by a coaster or van, there is no need of separate vehicles, he added. The Chief Minister said if he can come by a small car why you people cannot come. After visiting Pindi Bhattian, Shahbaz Sharif visited Shahpur and Sargodha and reviewed the arrangements made at the center set up for payment of financial assistance to the flood affectees.
The district administration gave a briefing on the occasion. Addressing the public meeting at Shahpur, the Chief Minister said the administration, Pak Army, Rescue 1122, elected representatives and concerned institutions have done excellent job during successful rescue and relief operation in flood-hit areas. He said for the first time, an amount of Rs 16 lakh each has been given to the heirs of those who died while Rs 100,000 each to those who were injured. Shahbaz Sharif said that he will himself monitor the process of payment of financial assistance to flood affectees. He said everyone knows who sends mischievous elements in PML-N public meetings. He asked Imran Khan to refrain from doing so otherwise its result will be nothing except destruction. He said: "We have stopped PML-N workers otherwise they will lose patience."
The Chief Minister, during his visit to Phalia reviewed arrangements for provision of financial assistance to the flood affectees. Shahbaz Sharif said he will stand with the affected people till their complete rehabilitation. The Chief Minister said he will continue to visit affected areas for supervising the distribution of relief amount and rehabilitation activities. He inspected the process of payment at the centre and also met the affectees as well as staff performing duty at the centre. Addressing a function regarding distribution of financial assistance to affectees in Wazirabad, the Chief Minister said the recent flood hit the province in September while there will be revolution of prosperity in October and fertilizer and seeds will be provided to the affected families. He said an effective strategy will have to be adopted for minimising flood losses in future and a committee should be constituted for this purpose at the national level. Shahbaz Sharif said the Punjab government has set up a committee for removing technical faults in barrages. He said that 600,000 people have been affected by the flood while 20,00,000 acres of land have been damaged. He said that financial assistance will also be provided to the persons who have lost their means of livelihood.
The Chief Minister also supervised the process of distribution of relief assistance among flood affectees in Sambrial and gave Rs 25,000 each to the affectees as the first instalment.
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