Minorities Affairs Minister Tahir Khalil Sindhu instructed government officials on Friday to carry out relief activities in rain-lashed areas to alleviate the problems of those affected.
Sindhu was chairing an emergency meeting at the district coordination officer’s (DCO’s) committee room. The meeting was convened to review the implementation of the flood-control plan.
He said ministers had been instructed by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to monitor relief activities during monsoon in the Punjab. Sindhu said he was given the task of inspecting flood-control arrangements in Faisalabad.
He instructed Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) officials to work proactively in the affected areas. Sindhu directed them to drain rainwater from inundated areas promptly. He instructed them to ensure that the WASA crisis management centres worked round the clock and directed them to raise awareness about its emergency help lines. Sindhu instructed them to use all resources at their disposal to drain rainwater from inundated areas.
He ordered that emergency be declared at hospitals in Faisalabad. Sindhu praised the establishment of a district flood control emergency centre at the DCO’s office. He said the office would play a crucial role in coordinating relief activities in the case of any untoward situation.
Sindhu said the loss of life in incidents of roof collapses over the past few days had saddened the chief minister. He said the government would provide each of the affected families with Rs500,000 as compensation. Sindhu said the government would also compensate property losses after relevant committees had finished completing surveys.
Sindhu also visited the flood emergency control centre at the DCO’s office. DCO Nurul Amin Mengal and WASA Managing Director Zahid Aziz briefed him on flood-control measures in the district. He also visited various areas and inspected the arrangements for rainwater drainage. Sindhu visited Kaleem Shahzad Colony to condole the demise of an industrial worker Abdul Majeed. Majeed had died after the roof of a power-loom factory collapsed. The minister expressed grief over his untimely death and told his family that the government shared their sorrow. Sindhu said the chief minister had ordered Rs500,000 compensation for them.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 6th, 2014.
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