Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that billion of rupees of utility bills outstanding against various industrial and trade organisations should be recovered and spent on the relief and rehabilitation of the flood affected people.
He said that till such time we would not consolidate our own resources, the foreign aid for affected victims will be insufficient. He said that taking foreign loans for relief and rehabilitation of affected people will tantamount to putting additional burden of loans on the nation.
He said that federal government and provinces would jointly start the distribution of money at the ratio of Rs 20 thousand per family among the affected people before Eid and this process will be completed within next 30 to 40 days. He said that Punjab government is starting distribution of amounts among the affected survivals jointly with Nadra and United Bank in Mianwali, Bhakkar and Layyah districts and transparency in distribution of financial assistance will be ensured at all cost.
He was addressing a press conference at Chief Minister's Secretariat here on Wednesday with regard to decisions taken in the meeting of Council of Common Interests and steps taken for the relief and rehabilitation of flood affected in Punjab. The Chief Minister said that the worst ever flood of the history has caused large scale devastation in four provinces of Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan. He said that nine lakh families were affected by flood, standing crops worth Rs 82 billion were destroyed whereas about seven lakh houses were either completely or partially demolished.
He said that in addition to this, schools, colleges, dispensaries, basic and rural health centres and roads were also damaged. He said that Punjab government is working round-the-clock for providing assistance and looking after the flood victims and not only he, himself, is supervising the relief activities but elected representatives, provincial ministers, political workers and administration are also taking active part in providing assistance to their sisters and brothers in distress.
The chief minister said that he has set up his camp office at Multan for co-ordinating the relief activities where representatives of foreign agencies are also working for providing assistance to the affected people. He said that Punjab government has provided 40 thousand tents, lakhs of packets of dry ration whereas cooked meal worth crores of rupees to the flood-hit victims. Similarly, six lakhs mineral water bottles were provided in the beginning of flood, and filtration plants of water were also installed.
He said that 40 new ambulances will be purchased and sent to affected areas and spray is also being conducted where water is standing. He said that World Health Organisation has provided one lakh kits for protecting the flood survivals from malaria.
Dispensaries were set up in schools whereas foreign countries have set up mobile hospitals in affected areas. He said that due to these measures of Punjab government, flood survivals were protected from epidemic diseases.
The Chief Minister said that solid decisions were taken with regard to rehabilitation of flood affected people in the meeting of the Council of Common Interests presided over by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and hoped that these decisions will be implemented.
He said that it was decided in the meeting that the federal government and the four provinces will start distribution of amount at the ratio of Rs 20 thousand per family as a first instalment among the affected people in one district before Eid, out of which 50 percent by federal government and 50 percent will be provided by the provincial governments.
He said that Punjab government proposed in the meeting that seed and fertiliser should be provided to the farmers free of cost having land up to 25 acres enabling them to stand their own feet and Quaid Pakistan Muslim League (N) Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif after consultation with the party had demanded of the federal government that one lakh rupees should be provided to every affected family.
He said that the Council of Common Interests has accepted these proposals. He said that it was decided in the meeting that the four provinces will be taken into confidence about the foreign aid and this aid will be distributed among the provinces on the basis of losses (Need Basis) from the forum of CCI.
He said that detailed discussion was held in the meeting with regard to transparency of distribution of financial assistance and the Prime Minister realising it said that such a mechanism should be evolved for transparency as not only Pakistani nation but the international community have the confidence in the steps of rehabilitation and this assistance should not go to undeserving persons. He said that the responsibility of double check of survey being carried out for assessing the losses should be assigned to an international organisation so that there should be no doubt of any kind regarding transparency and the provinces could be given financial assistance according to their losses.
He said that the meeting of CCI also agreed for adopting simplicity. He said that the meeting also agreed that steps should be taken on war footing for checking the embezzlements in the receipt of revenues in the Federal Board of Revenue. The Chief Minister said that if we did not correct the situation, how long we will be depending upon taking loans.
He said that the resources collected from the elimination of corruption can be spent on the relief and rehabilitation of flood affected people and not only the people will realise that their government is working sincerely for the rehabilitation of affected people, but a message will also go to the world community that they have not only depended upon foreign aid but also relying on their own resources.
He said that Benazir Income Support Programme is of Rs 50 billion and these resources are of Pakistan and everyone has equal right over it. The best use of these resources is to spend these on distressed humanity in this hour of trial. He said that two crores flood affected people have genuine right over these resources.
Replying to a question, he said that a Commission headed by a Judge of High Court has been constituted for inquiry of breaches caused in dykes which has started its work and its report will be brought before the people. If anyone found guilty in the light of the report, will not be escaped to punishment, he added.
Replying to another question, he said that according to the report of Nadra, about 92 percent citizens have identity cards in the country. He said that Nadra will set up special counters in affected areas where people having no identity card could get their identity cards. Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa and Senator Pervaiz Rashid were also present in the press conference.