Punjab Govt To Begin Flood Damage Assessment Survey From 12th.

LAHORE -- The Punjab government has deAcided to start damage assessment survey in the flood-affected areas from September 12 while the rehabilitation phase will begin after the survey is completed on September 27. This decision was taken in the fourth meeting of the Ministerial Committee for DiAsaster Management constituted by the Punjab Chief Minister to review the relief activities in the flood affected areas held at the Civil Secretariat.

Provincial Minister for ParliaAmentary Affairs, Cooperatives and Environment Basharat Raja chaired the meeting which was attended among others by Finance Minister Mohsin Khan Laghari, Agriculture Minister Hussain Jahanian Gardezi and Revenue Minister Nawabzada Mansoor Ahmed Khan. SpeAcial Assistant TO Chief MinisAter Punjab Senator Dr Sania Nishtar participated through video link.

Senior Member Board of RevAenue (SMBR) Zahid Akhtar ZaAman suggested that the populaAtion along flood range should be permanently relocated to safer places by constructing houses with the government help. He told the meeting that welfare organizations have also offered to build houses for the affected people. 'Teams have been formed for the survey starting from next week. As soon as the survey is completed, distribution of relief funds and construction of houses will be started,' Zaman briefed.

Ministerial Committee ChairAman Basharat Raja said that after the relief activities, the governAment will begin the rehabilitaAtion phase. 'Punjab chief minister wants restoration of flood victims on war-footing. No department should be lax in assessing the difAficulties of the affected people and all the departments concerned should give their own roadmap for rehabilitation,' he directed.

Basharat expressed satisfacAtion over constituting a commitAtee under Dr Sania Nishtar for the utilization of the Chief...