The calamity caused by the recent floods in Pakistan was extremely severe, as millions of people have lost their homes, land and all other assets. Though rehabilitation of flood affectees is well on its way but still a lot of work has to be done, as thousands of helpless families are still waiting for help.
These views were expressed by the LCCI President Shahzad Ali Malik while speaking at a meeting with DCO Leyyah Javaid Iqbal here at the LCCI on Friday. Shahzad Ali Malik said that devastation scale was much bigger and government alone could not cope with the situation. He said that although the nation had never left any stone unturned for the help of their catastrophe-hit brothers but all segments of society should continue to play their vital role in reducing the stress of flood victims.
He said that the LCCI had fulfilled its commitment with the Chief Minister Punjab Mian Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif and constructed 40 houses on war footing in Basti Manchar Mohana of District Leyyah and handed over the possession of these newly constructed houses to the flood affectees of the area.
He said that the LCCI had committed with the Chief Minister Punjab for construction of 150 houses in the flood-affected areas of District Leyyah. At the first stage 40 houses had been constructed on emergent basis in Basti Manchara Mohana as the devastation due to floods was about 90 per cent while on the second stage a Model Village would be constructed in Shahbazabad. The Model Village would be constructed as per Punjab government Plan.
The LCCI President 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. He said that 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.
He said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry would fulfil its Corporate Social Responsibility 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.
He said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry had already contributed Rs 15 million to the cause as it had donated Rs 10 million in Prime Minister Flood Relief Fund and another rupees five million in Chief Minister Punjab fund for rehabilitation of flood Affectees.
The LCCI Senior Vice President Sheikh Mohammad Arshad, in his address, paid rich tributes to the District Leyyah Management and Pakistan Rangers for supplementing the LCCI efforts for rehabilitation of the District Leyyah flood victims. He said that everyone had extended his best co-operation to the LCCI and played a vital role for the early construction of 40 houses in Basti Manchara Mohana.
Earlier, DCO Leyyah Javaid Iqbal gave a detailed presentation regarding the rehabilitation work going on under the vision of Chief Minister Punjab Mian Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif. He said that the recent flood had given a big blow to the agriculture sector of district Leyyah and people attached with this sector were in deep trouble. He said that Chief Minister Punjab had directed to utilise all sources for early rehabilitation of the flood victims. He said that the LCCI has done marvellous work for the rehabilitation of flood victims.
The LCCI Senior Vice President Sheikh Mohammad Arshad, Vice President Sohail Azhar, Pervez Malik MNA, Mehar Ejaz MPA, LCCI Executive Committee Members Mian Zahid Javaid, Chaudhry Wajid Ali, Amjad Ali Jawa, Fahim-ur-Rehman Saigol, Kh. Khawar Rasheed, Ilyas Majeed Sheikh and Chairman SDC Rehmatullah Javed also spoke on the occasion.