Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved a special relief package for students hailing from flood-affected regions. Under this package, semester fee for all students from the affected areas has been waived off. Additionally, admission fee for the first-year BS (Bachelor of Studies) students from these regions has also been exempted. This package will benefit students from Muzaffargarh, Multan, Lodhran, Vehari, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Chiniot, and Kasur, who will be granted full fee waiver for their first academic year. In a further facilitative step, registration deadline in all universities located within the flood-affected districts has been extended by 20 days, whereas deadline for applying for ‘Honhaar’ scholarship has been extended by one month.
Chief Minister said that Punjab government’s initiative is aimed at easing financial burden on the parents of affected students along with ensuring their uninterrupted access to education. She added,”We will not allow education of our sons and daughters to be disrupted due to recent flood devastation. We are making every possible effort to provide full support to flood victims, ensure their rapid rehabilitation and compensate all their losses.”
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed the authorities concerned to complete construction and repair of flood-affected roads in Punjab on emergency basis, for which construction and communication teams have been mobilized. Repair of flood-damaged crack on Khangarh-Doma Road in Liaquatpur area has been completed, whereas reconstruction of flood-damaged road from Nazro Wali Hatti to Mukhan Bela near Head Panjnad in Ahmedpur East is underway. Repair of flood-damaged crack on Saitpur to Marhari road in Alipur area has been completed, whereas reconstruction and repair of Chanigoth Road in Ahmedpur area is ongoing. Reconstruction and repair of Kanwal Road in Basti Azeem Shah area of Alipur will be completed tomorrow, while the construction of Shindar Bhan to Bar Wali road in Ahmedpur East has been completed.
Work is underway rapidly on Shahi Wala Road near Sultanpur in Alipur area. Heavy machinery has been despatched for the construction of Sultanpur to Saitpur road where work has begun. Emergency construction and repair of Sultanpur road near Basti Desi area of tehsil Alipur is underway, whereas work for the construction and repair of flood-affected road of Khangarh-Doma-Sarki road is rapidly moving towards completion.
Chief Minister has directed the relevant authorities to complete the construction and repair of affected roads as soon as possible.