All flooded areas declared calamity-hit

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has declared all flood-affected areas of the province calamity-hit, announcing waiver of water and land revenue charges in the inundated parts of Rajanpur, Taunsa, Dera Ghazi Khan and Esakhel.

He was chairing an emergency meeting to review the flood situation and relief operations in Rajanpur, Taunsa and Dera Ghazi Khan.

The chief minister directed the authorities concerned to deliver financial aid to the flood victims as soon as possible, adding that damage to houses, crops and livestock would be fully compensated. A survey should be started as soon as possible to recompense the losses, he emphasised.

Additional funds will be provided to help and fully compensate the flood victims for their losses, he pledged.

The chief minister asked the senior member of the Board of Revenue and the director general of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to leave for the flood-hit areas and ordered the constitution of the cabinet committee for disaster management without delay.

An emergency plan should also be devised to restore flood-hit road links and all arrangements in this regard should be completed in DG Khan, Taunsa and Rajanpur, he said.

Required equipment and food hampers should be delivered in large numbers to the affected areas, he said and asserted that the Punjab government stood with the flood-affected people.

The CM also called for continuous monitoring of the river water released by India. He said a plan should be devised by the irrigation secretary to store the precious water.

“I am also grateful to the Pakistan Army for its timely help and assistance in the safe evacuation of people,” he said while thanking the Multan corps commander.

With the help of the army, it was made possible to save precious lives, he noted and added that the Pakistan Army was taking the lead in helping flood victims. The Pakistan Army has stood by the nation in every hour of trial, he said.

The Punjab government appreciates the role of the Pakistan Army in helping people in distress, he said and impressed upon the philanthropists to lend a helping hand.

The government will extend full support to NGOs and other organisations in their philanthropic work, he added.

The CM was briefed that a new rain spell was set to begin in the Koh-e-Suleman region on Tuesday and continue till August 26. There is a fear of flooding in DG Khan, Rajanpur and Taunsa once again.

More than 300,000 people have been affected by flood in DG Khan and Rajanpur. The Punjab government has provided about 23,000 tents and 36,000 food hampers to the affected people.

Chief Secretary Kamran Afzal, Inspector General of Police Faisal Shahkar, CM’s Principal Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti, the SMBR, provincial secretaries of irrigation, health, housing, livestock, local government and communications and works departments, representatives of Pakistan Army, the PDMA DG and the Rescue 1122 DG attended the meeting, while water division joint secretary and commissioners of DG Khan and Bahawalpur divisions participated through video link.

Meanwhile, the chief minister expressed deep grief over loss of lives due to a roof collapse incident in Khairpur. He extended his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved and prayed for the early recovery of the injured.

In another development, Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi and former federal minister Moonis Elahi met Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan at Bani Gala and discussed the prevailing political situation and public welfare projects in Punjab.

They also discussed ongoing rescue and relief operations in DG Khan, Taunsa and Rajanpur.

Former prime minister Imran Khan underlined the need for using every resource to assist the flood victims. He appreciated the steps taken by the Punjab government for the rehabilitation of the victims.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2022.