LAHORE:
In a representative to an important coalition partner on how to help tens of thousands of people affected by floods in Punjab, Prime Minister Maryam Nawaz finally made clear his preference by officially announcing the launch of a special relief card.
The PPP has maintained all the time that Benazir’s entry support program (BISP) is the most effective and fastest mechanism to help the victims of floods, while the PML-N government in Punjab insists on channeling the aid through its own “relief card” initiative.
Punjab Prime Minister promised financial compensation for destroyed houses, losses of cattle and agricultural damage.
Speaking in the Punjab opening flood surface campaign, Maryam formally launched the digital survey portal and administered oaths to the members of the survey teams.
“The people of other provinces often say: ‘If only we were also in Punjab,” he said, adding: “There is no magical wand, but fortunately, Punjab has mostly had PML-N governments.”
According to the main minister, 2,200 survey teams comprising 10,000 members have mobilized in Punjab. These include revenue representatives, agriculture, livestock departments, district administration and Pakistan’s army.
In revealing the details of the relief card, Maryam said that the families whose houses were completely destroyed would receive RS1 million, while those whose houses were partially damaged would receive RS500,000.
In cases of livestock deaths, compensation of RS500,000 per animal would be provided.
In addition, he announced that farmers who cultivate up to 12 acres would receive RS20,000 per Acre as support.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed on Saturday the acceleration of relief and rehabilitation operations in people affected by floods.
The prime minister presided over a review meeting on the current flood situation and rehabilitation efforts ongoing immediately after his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, said PM Media Wing in a press.
The prime minister instructed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to accelerate the restoration work in the M-5 highway section affected by the floods of the Sutlej River.
The main secretaries of the four provinces, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Cashmiro, also participated in the meeting.
