While fulfilling its promise with the Punjab Chief Minister, the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has handed over the possession letters of 40 newly built houses to the flood affected people of Basti Manchara Mohna in District Layyah.
According to the LCCI spokesman, the Lahore Chamber constructed the houses under its "Rs 5 million Basti Manchra Mohana project". Senior Vice President of the Chamber Sheikh Mohammad Arshad handed over the possession documents and the keys of newly built houses to the flood affected victims at an impressive ceremony in Basti Manchra Mohna on Wednesday.
Director General Pakistan Rangers Mohammad Nawaz, LCCI executive committee members Mian Zahid Javaid, Chaudhry Wajid Ali and Brigadier Ejaz of Rangers also spoke on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI Senior Vice President Sheikh Mohammad Arshad said that the Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif had given the task for the early rehabilitation of the flood affected people to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, therefore, at the first stage 40 houses had been constructed on emergent basis in Basti Manchara Mohana while on the second stage a Model Village would be constructed in Shahbazabad.
The Model Village would be constructed as per Punjab government plan. He said that the designing and town planning would be done by the government while construction would be completed by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He said that the entire funds needed for the project are being generated by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry through its own resources.
Three committees comprising LCCI office-bearers and executive committee members have been formed to supervise the project and co-ordinate with the district administration so that it could be completed in three months time. Sheikh Mohammad Arshad said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry would fulfil its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in a winsome manner as it has the understanding that the government alone cannot cope with the mass devastation caused by the floods.
He, however, urged the government to take measures on war-footing to complete infrastructure development in the flood affected areas so that the economic activity in these areas could get a start. The Lahore Chamber had already contributed Rs 15 million to the cause as it had donated Rs 10 million in Prime Flood Relief Fund and another Rs five million in Chief Minister Punjab fund for rehabilitation of flood affected victims, he added.