Floods: ‘First installment of reparation before Eid’

Second installment will be paid after a survey of losses incurred in floods.

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Monday the first installment of assistance to flood-hit people would be paid before Eidul Azha.

He was visiting flood-affected areas of Pind Dadan Khan in Jhelum.

He said the second installment would be paid after a survey of losses caused by the floods. He said the government would continue to help the calamity-stricken people.

The chief minister inspected relief camps in the area and asked for feedback from flood victims about arrangements made to provide them relief.

He said alternative arrangements should be made in areas where floods had affected schools. He ordered that flood victims be provided tents free of cost. Sharif said roads damaged by floods should be repaired quickly. He also ordered provision of drinking water to flood victims.

He said a large number of houses and crops had been damaged in 16 districts.

He said the provincial government, Pakistan Army, district administrations, police and Rescue-1122 had rescued thousands of people in the affected areas. Earlier, the chief minister was informed that 175,000 cattle had been vaccinated. He was informed that more than Rs20 million had been distributed among flood victims in the area.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2014.