Prominent personalities of various walks of life met Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, here Wednesday and donated relief items for the flood-hit people as well as presented cheques for Chief Minister's Fund for Flood Relief. Member Provincial Assembly Sheikh Allaudin and Managing Director Suzuki Motors Company, Hero Fominigo gave two water boats and 215 tents for flood affectees.
Similarly, Vice Chairman LDA Kh. Ahmed Hasaan presented cheque for Rs 1.1 million, Ajasam Butt of Islam Trading Rs 500,000 Atiq-ur-Rehman Rs 200,000 and Hafiz Khalid of Jamia Ashrafia Rs 200,000. Moreover, Vice Chancellor Sargodha University Professor Dr Muhammad Akram presented a cheque for Rs 2.00 million. The Chief Minister while speaking on the occasion commended the humanitarian spirit of the donors and said that every penny of donations is being spent on providing relief to calamity-hit people. He said that flood affectees will not be left alone and provision of help and assistance to them will be continued. He said that as per promise, compensation is being paid to the devastated people in days and not in months. He said that financial assistance of Rs 25 thousand each will be given to the head of every affected family in the first phase. He said that this process will be started within next few days and completed before Eid-ul-Azha. He said that in the second phase, distribution of financial assistance will be started from the middle of October after an authentic survey of losses. The Chief Minister said that special centers for the payment of compensation will be set up in the affected areas of 16 districts of the province.
He said that like rescue and relief operation, the process of provision of financial assistance to flood affectees will be also be undertaken speedily and he will personally supervise the entire process. Shahbaz Sharif further said that provincial ministers will also visit their respective districts for monitoring the payment process. He said that maximum centers for payment of financial assistance are being set up in the flood-hit areas for the convenience of the affectees and necessary facilities will also be provided to them at these centers. He said that arrangements will also be made at the payment centers for the guidance of flood-hit people. Provincial Minister for Finance Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Minister for Environment Colonel Shuja Khanzada (Retd) Senior Member Board of Revenue and Director General PDMA were also present on the occasion.