*Chief minister says huge rehabilitation program being carried out in flood-hit areas
Biggest relief and rehabilitation operation for flood affectees is being carried out under Punjab government and thousand of human lives have been saved due to timely measures, said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif while presiding over a joint meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Flood and Cabinet Committee on Price Control.
Besides relief and rehabilitation activities, the meeting also reviewed prices of essential items.
The chief minister said that recent flood was the biggest in the history of the province and had caused massive damage. However, he said the government launched a speedy rescue and relief operation for the calamity-hit people and it is still continuing.
He said that after rescue operation, there is now a need to pay attention to relief and rehabilitation activities and all departments concerned should perform their responsibilities in this regard with commitment and efficiency.
He said that in addition to relief activities, rehabilitation work should also be completed expeditiously in the affected districts.
The chief minister said that survey of damages to property, houses and crops should be transparent and authentic and satellite images should be used for correct assessment of losses in the devastated areas.
The chief minister further directed that all preventive measures should be taken to control outbreak of viral diseases in affected areas.
He said that besides administering polio drops to the children and vaccination against measles, protective measures should also be taken against other diseases in the flood-hit areas.
He said that the work of rehabilitation of roads and infrastructure should be undertaken on war footing.
He further said that a committee should hold a meeting on weekly basis to review rehabilitation activities.