WB offers $35m for flood victims

CM apprises bank delegation of govt’s relief efforts for affected people

LAHORE:

A World Bank delegation led by its Country Director, Najy Benhassine, met with the Chief Minister of Punjab, Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, and former federal minister Moonis Elahi at the Chief Minister’s Office and agreed to increase cooperation in different fields between the Punjab government and the World Bank.

A detailed discussion was held about the WB-assisted social and infrastructure improvement programmes for the province.

The country director assured the chief minister of promoting cooperation in the sectors of education, health, family planning, irrigation, agriculture and construction of small dams while offering to give $35 million to the Punjab government for cash transfer for the flood victims.

Chief Minister Parvez Elahi said that $35 million would be linked with the Punjab Ehsaas Program and distributed among the flood victims.

The CM told the World Bank delegation that his government had announced making of education free up to the degree level. Permission had been granted to recruit ad hoc doctors and other staff in the health department and make medicines free in emergency wards, he added.

Similarly, special medical camps had been set up in the flood-affected areas to prevent epidemics, and a comprehensive plan drawn up for the rehabilitation of flood victims, the CM said. He said that full attention was being paid to building dams to preserve water.

Najy Benhassine said that he would continue to cooperate with the Punjab government under the leadership of CM Parvez Elahi and added that education, health and social sector reforms of the Punjab government would yield positive results.

Meanwhile, Chaudhry Parvez Elahi felicitated Shah Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, the royal family and the people of Saudi Arabia on the national day of Saudi Arabia.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2022.