‘Govt focused on resettlement of flood victims’

Punjab Minister for Local Government and Community Development (LGCD) Mian Mahmoodur Rashid has said the relief operation has been completed and now the government will shift all its focus to the resettlement of flood-affected citizens.

Presiding over a meeting about relief activities in flood-affected areas in Dera Ghazi Khan Commissioner’s Office on Saturday, the minister underscored that the government would try to repair the damages in the flood-affected areas as soon as possible. It is evaluating proposals to compensate or reconstruct houses affected by the floods.

He said the survey to assess the damages in flood-affected areas would be completed soon. The government would try to compensate for damages. “Apart from cash compensation, proposals are under consideration to rebuilding damaged houses with the help of domestic and foreign donors, he added.

He highlighted that the philanthropists are approaching in large numbers.

“We are focussing on resettlement as relief operation has been completed, he maintained.

The meeting was attended by the MPAs Muhammad Hanif Patafi, Sardar Ahmed Ali Darishak, Dr Shaheen Najeeb Khosa, Dera Ghazi Khan Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Anwar Briar and other senior officials.

Speaking on the occasion, MPA Sardar Ahmad Ali Dareshk announced rebuilding 1,000 houses in his constituency at a cost of Rs100 million.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Anwar Briar briefed meeting participants that 17 tent villages and more than 25 flood relief camps had been established in the flood-affected areas. Survey teams had been constituted for the district, tehsil and 189 patwar circles.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2022.