Flood ‘14: Second round of relief payments begins

Rs583.64 million will be distributed among 13,475 flood-hit families in Chiniot.

FAISALABAD:

Payment of the second installment of compensation to flood-hit families began on Monday, on the directives of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Addressing a ceremony, Sharif said Rs583.64 million would be disbursed among 13,475 flood-affected families in Chiniot.

Later he addressed a gathering in Wanke Tarar, Hafizabad.

He said three centers had been set up in this regard.

He said Rs16 billion had been earmarked for relief efforts under the Khadim-e-Punjab Relief Package.

He said that in the second phase, compensation was being given for damage to houses and crops.

The chief minister said Rs80,000 was being paid for houses that had collapsed in the floods and Rs40,000 for partially damaged houses.

He said the government had paid the first installment of Rs25,000 per family before Eid.

He said that in the second phase, compensation for damage to crops at the rate of Rs10,000 per acre was being given to farmers who had up to 12.5 acres.

Minister of State Saira Afzal Tarar and Minister of Labour Raja Ashfaq Sarwar were also present.

Sharif said the Chinese president and prime minister had expressed confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his recent visit to China. He said the Chinese president wanted to visit Pakistan but his visit had been delayed due to the protests in the capital.

Sharif said agreements for energy projects of billions involving dollars had been signed in Beijing.

The chief minister further said financial assistance of Rs610 million was being given to 10,572 flood-hit families in Hafizabad.

The chief minister said pick-and-drop facility would also be provided to those who could not afford to travel to the centers.

He said people waiting in queues would be served tea, biscuits and water at the disbursement centres.

He said counters of NADRA and the Revenue Department would verify the list of flood-hit families and payments made.

Minister for Special Education Asif Saeed Manais, Chief Secretary Naveed Akram Cheema and Cooperatives Secretary Babar Hayat Tarar also visited the disbursement centers to review arrangements and the process of the payment to flood-hit families.

Commissioner Captain (r) Nasim Nawaz, RPO Ehsan Tufail, DCO Irshad Arhad and DPO Abdul Qadir Qamar were present on the occasion.

Manais said a comprehensive mechanism had been evolved to ensure the payment process remained transparent and no one was denied financial assistance.

He said desks had been set up to address complaints in this regard.

The minister said the payment process would be closely monitored.

Chief Secretary Naveed Akram Cheema checked various counters and reviewed the process of payment to the flood-hit families. He said negligence.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2014.