Breaking down the numbers

Punjab govt has released Rs5.45 billion for rescue and relief operations in the flood affected districts since August.

LAHORE:
The Punjab government has released Rs5.45 billion for rescue and relief operations in the flood affected districts of the province since the natural catastrophe struck in early August.

Out of the total, Rs4.4 billion was being used for rehabilitation of flood victims while the remaining amount was utilised for rescue operations.

In order to deal with the situation, the Finance Department provided Rs226.14 million for carrying out relief operations in the flood-hit districts, Rs50 million was donated to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rs262 million was spent on the procurement of tents, Rs135 million for purchasing 50 ambulances, Rs80 million for acquiring medicines and insecticides, Rs45 million on buying vaccines and wheat straw for live stock, and Rs17 million was used for purchasing 200 dewatering sets.

The department also issued Rs11.35 million for the purchase of 100 fog machines and another Rs32.5million for the purchase of generators used for water purification plants.

The government, in addition, released Rs137 million for providing Ramazan package to the flood victims while an Eid package of Rs39 million was also given to them.

Another Rs33 million was distributed among the families of the people who died in the floods. Workers, engaged in relief activities, were paid Rs3.08 million.


An additional Rs3.375 billion was handed over to the federal government as the Punjab’s contribution in the issuance of Watan Cards to the flood affected people.

Rs1 billion was used by the government for the construction of 975 kilometres of roads destroyed by the floods and for the repair of 375 kilometres partially-damaged roads.

The flood affected 11 districts of the province.

A population of 6.2 million was affected.

According to the data provided by the government, 110 people died, 1.712 million acres of standing crops were destroyed and 500,000 houses damaged.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24th, 2010.
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