Shahbaz to walk is talk of cash compensation before Eid

*CM pays surprise visit to Pind Dadan Khan to monitor relief and rehabilitation activities

First installment of financial assistance will be paid without any discrimination to the heads of the flood affected families in the areas which have suffered losses of 40 percent or more before Eidul Azha, said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif while talking to flood affectees and addressing briefing meetings during his surprise visit to flood-hit areas of Pind Dadan Khan and the nearby villages in Jhelum district on Monday.

He inspected relief camps and mingled with the flood affectees and inquired about their problems. District administration gave a briefing to the chief minister during the visit.

Addressing the briefing meeting and the flood affectees, Shahbaz said that he is standing with the affected people and will fully support them. He directed that rehabilitation activities for the devastated people should be carried out with a national spirit. He said that the process of education in the educational institutions of the flood-hit areas should not be interrupted and alternative arrangements should be made for this purpose. He directed that free-of-cost tents be provided to the people whose houses have been destroyed.

The chief minister further directed that process of repair and reconstruction of the roads affected by flood should be completed as early as possible. He also directed that provision of potable water to the residents of the flood-hit areas should be ensured at any cost, adding that the government will continue to provide all out resources for the provision of relief to the flood affectees.

He said that a comprehensive strategy is also being evolved for minimising flood losses in future. He said that he is personally visiting each and every flood-hit village to review the situation and has come again to this area as per his promise to look after relief and rehabilitation activities.