Govt approves flood relief disbursement mechanism
A flood victim family take refuge with their belongings as floodwater rises, following rains and floods during the monsoon season in Sohbatpur. PHOTO: REUTERS
Punjab government has approved a mechanism for the disbursement of relief amount to flood victims across the clarity-hit districts in the province.
The approval was granted during a meeting of the Sub-Committee of Cabinet on Legislative Business (SCCLB) that met on Thursday, under the chair of Punjab Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Environment Protection and Cooperatives Mohammad Basharat Raja chaired the meeting of the Cabinet Committee was informed that the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) would transfer the amount to Punjab Bank which would be directly received by the affected families.
“A complete database of affected families has been developed and they will be notified through SMS for collection of relief amount."
The PDMA DG told meeting participants that the tradition of issuing government cheques and the requirement to open an account has been done away with. If the recipient wants, he or she can withdraw the money as needed or take it all at once. A debit card will also be issued in this regard,” he added.
The Cabinet Committee also approved the appointment of Health Minister Prof Dr Yasmin Rashid as the Chairperson Monitoring Authority for PHOTA, an authority for organ transplants and the appointment of a member of the Punjab Environment Tribunal.
rovincial Law Minister Khurram Shehzad Virk and Communications and Works Minister Ali AfzalSahi also participated in the meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2022.