Punjab Government released Rs100 million to each district affected by the recent rains and floods in the first phase, for meeting the basic financial needs to cope with the flood-affected situation. This was stated by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif while talking to the affected ones of the flood-affected areas of the Lalian Tehsil of the Chiniot District on Thursday.
He said it is the first priority of the government to evacuate the stranded people from the floodwater, and so far, people from nearly 90 percent areas in the province have been evacuated before the flood or from the floodwater. He told three helicopters are being used for carrying the food or medicines for the flood affected ones. Meanwhile, the Punjab government will provide Rs20,000 compensation to each flood-affected family before Eid-ul Azha.
This was stated by the members of Punjab Cabinet Committee for flood relief at a news conference in Lahore on Thursday. Chairman of the committee Shuja Khanzada said the provincial government will not rest till the complete rehabilitation of affected persons to their areas. He said 16 helicopters are being used for evacuation of stranded people. Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yasin said blankets and 100,000 bottled of water have been distributed amongst the flood victims. He said mosquito kits will also be given to the affected ones to protect them from dengue fever.
Bilal Yasin said 184 people have been killed mostly in rain related incidents. He said the provincial government has released Rs2 billion for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood affected. Member of the committee Zaeem Qadri said 1.8 million people have been affected by the floods and rains in Punjab province. One hundred and forty thousand people have been moved to safer places and five hundred relief camps have been established for the affected persons.