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PM visits flood hit areas

Punjab Govt, agencies

directed to tackle flood situation

WANDHDOO, (Gujranwala): Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto today directed the federal government agencies and Punjab government to tackle the devastating flood situation on war footing.

After an aerial view of the inundated areas of Gujranwala district, she was briefed on the relief work operation by Relief Commissioner Punjab, Tariq Haroon Saeed here.

The Prime Minister was informed that 18 lakh 99 thousand 830 hundred acres of cultivable land had been affected by recent floods, 48 lives were lost and 16,018 houses were damaged.

The Prime Minister was told that 3 of the Punjab's districts - Jhang, Sialkot and Rajanpur - were most affected. In Jhang district 546,000 acres of land was under water, in Sialkot 266,000 acres and in Rajanpur 197,000 acres had been inundated.

Benazir directed all the federal and Provincial ministers to donate one month salary to the Prime Minister's Special Relief Fund which she has now established. She also called upon well-to-do people to come to the rescue of flood affected brethren at this critical hour and appealed for donations to the Prime Minister's Special Relief Fund.

The premier was informed 242 relief camps had been set up in the affected areas. About Nullah Dek which had caused colossal loss, the premier ordered that its remodelling and channelling should be taken up at once which would cost Rs 200 crores.

After the completion of this project of Nullah Dek lakhs of acres in the 4 districts - Narowal, Sialkot, Gujranwala and Sheikhupura - will be saved from future floods of this intensity.

The premier also directed a grant of Rs 100 million for the project immediately. She distributed cheques and food stuff to 20 affected families and directed the senior Punjab Minister Makhdoom Altaf Ahmad to distribute cheques to rest of the people of the affected area. The Punjab Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd) Raja Saroop Khan and Chief Minister Manzoor Wattoo were also present on the occasion.

The Punjab Chief Minister told the Prime Minister that timely action by his government had averted a worse situation. He said that the cities of Multan and Muzaffargarh were timely saved by strengthening river embankments and other places.

The premier directed that Rs 5000 should be given to the family whose house is damaged, and Rs 3000 for partial damaged house and reasonable compensation for the loss of bread winner's life.

The MNA of the area Abdullah Virk also briefed the premier about the crop damages in the area. The premier evinced deep concern when she was told that rice crop was totally damaged. She asked if any substitute crop could be sown after the floods she was told that this would not be possible. He implored that the area be declared calamity hit.

The premier directed the Punjab Chief Minister to prepare a report on the calamity hit areas of Punjab in the recent floods so that the government could take relief measures accordingly.

She also directed that a team of journalists should be taken to affected areas of other districts also, so that the true picture of the damaged areas could be before people and they could generously donate in this regard.-APP