'Aid distribution to start before Eid'

Shahbaz Sharif has said that provincial government will start disbursing 40 billion rupees among victims before Eid.

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that the provincial government will start disbursing 40 billion rupees among flood victims before Eid.

Addressing a press conference Sharif said that the data on flood victims would be provided by Nadra and local politicians and civil society members would comprise the committee that would disburse the funds. He said that 92 per cent of the area population is registered with Nadra.

He said that the entire process starting from Mianwali, Bhakkar and Layyah will take 30-40 days to complete.

He said Punjab has incurred the loss of Rs82 billion and more than 6.5 million people were displaced. He said that the initial 40 billion rupees is shared by federal government by 50 per cent and each family would get Rs20,000.

The chief minister also said that the incoming foreign aid will be distributed according to the damage assessment among the provinces. However, he said that aid would not be enough and urged the federal government to divert Benazir Income Support Programme funds to the flood affected people.

Sharif also proposed that international agencies should verify the provincial damage assessment surveys.