Govt To Provide Solar Tube Wells To Farmers In Flood Affected Areas: CM Parvez.

LAHORE -- Punjab Chief Minister Ch Parvez Elahi on Sunday said that the provincial government believed in giving relief to the people instead of creating difficulties for them. Addressing the office bearers and members of Lahore Press Club in a function organized in their honour here, he said: 'We only think of giving relief to the people and not giving any pain or grief. I would think daily which kind of noble deed should I do to serve the people.'

The chief minister claimed that Punjab government was ahead of everyone in doing welfare work. He said that he will ensure the system of donation and their usage mechanism to be transparent. The CM questioned why Shehbaz Sharif was trying to convince the United Nations Secretary General by holding his hand regarding the transparent usage of the funds. 'Shehbaz Sharif knows how to ask for money. What can be expected from Shehbaz Sharif and Miftah Ismail'., he asked.

Parvez said that his government will be providing solar tube-wells to the flood affected farmers. 'Pakistani citizen and American businessman - Tahir Javed will also help with regard to providing solar pumps to the flood affectees on my call,' he added. The CM apprised that the relief amount to be given to the heirs of the deceased during the flood has been increased to Rs1 million. 'We will provide financial aid amounting to Rs4 lakhs on the collapse of a concrete house and Rs2 laks on the collapse of a clay house. We will provide Rs75,000 to the owners of the livestock due to drowning of their livestock in the flood. 'We will provide a 40 percent subsidy on food items to the homeless persons due to floods.'

He said that more than Rs2.5 billion had been collected in the telethon for the flood affectees, adding that the government will ensure transparency in the relief package. He said audit will also be done and those found involved in doing embezzlements will be punished. 'Journalists played a commendable role for bringing the problems of the flood affectees to surface during the floods. The work of journalists' brothers is difficult and their problems should be resolved on priority.

The CM announced that a patrolling post will be set up in the journalists housing society to eradicate it from the land grabbers. A message has been conveyed to the Inspector General of Police that land grabbing on the plots of the members of the Lahore Press Club will not be tolerated. He further announced that it is included in...