The Punjab government on Tuesday announced its relief package for people affected by this year’s monsoon rains and floods, though did not specify when it would be distributed to the affected population.
“A sum of Rs. 1 million will be given to the owner of a destroyed house and Rs. 500,000 for partially damaged houses,” announced Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari. She said farmers whose land was submerged would receive Rs. 20,000/acre in compensation, while anyone who lost livestock would receive Rs. 500,000/cow or buffalo.
“All these payments are being made from the Punjab government’s own resources without seeking external aid,” she said, adding that the provincial government would not utilize the platform of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP).
According to Bokhari, the government would issue “relief cards” so that flood victims could receive the aid without standing in long queues. She explained that the aid would be provided on the basis of ongoing surveys in flood-affected areas, adding 10,000 employees were performing the exercise.
Updating media on the impact of the floods in Punjab, the information minister said over 4.7 million people and 2.1 million livestock had been affected across 27 districts and 4,794 villages. “For relief and rescue operations, 2,213 teams are still working in the field,” she said, adding Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had visited every flood-hit area. She claimed the provincial government had set an example in relief and rescue operations, and slammed opposition parties for seeking to politicize the issue.
Separately, Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabil Javaid said authorities had established 271 relief camps and 300 medical camps, adding more than 2.6 million people and 2.1 million animals had been relocated to safety.