On the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the provincial government is spending Rs. 100 billion on the rehabilitation of flood victims across Punjab.
Out of this amount, Rs. 11.5 billion have already been transferred to the victims’ bank accounts, while Rs. 20 billion have been handed over to the Bank of Punjab.
This was stated by Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb while addressing a ceremony held at Jinnah Stadium Khairpur Tamewali under the Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Flood Rehabilitation Programme. She said that under the leadership of CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif, historic measures are being taken to rebuild the lives of flood-affected families.
The minister informed that 180,000 bank accounts have been opened for the victims, ensuring transparent and dignified compensation for damaged houses and crops. The government, she added, is also providing cash assistance and transport facilities to affected families.
Marriyum highlighted that it was a remarkable achievement to initiate the compensation process within just 26 days of the disaster. She said CM Maryam Nawaz personally supervised all stages of relief, rescue, and rehabilitation operations. During Punjab’s worst floods in history, around two million animals and countless families were safely relocated – an effort she described as “stunning the imagination”.
She noted that the province’s swift and well-coordinated rescue, relief, survey, and financial compensation operations have set an unprecedented example in Pakistan’s history. The minister further said that a 100pc survey of flood-affected families in 72 tehsils across 27 districts has been completed.
Marriyum Aurangzeb added that mobile hospitals and “clinics on wheels” remained active in the affected areas, where 1.5 million people received medical treatment – preventing any major outbreak of disease. Despite 1.8 million cusecs of floodwater flowing through Punjab’s rivers, she said, timely rescue and rehabilitation efforts under the Chief Minister’s leadership ensured the protection of lives and property.
The ceremony was attended by Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, Irrigation Minister Kazim Ali Pirzada, C&W Minister Malik Sohaib Ahmad Bharath, PML-N leader Saud Majeed, MP Dr Rana Tariq, Sadia Bilal, former MPA Afzal Gul, Commissioner Bahawalpur Musarrat Jabeen, RPO Rai Babar Saeed, DG PDMA Irfan Ali Kathia, and DC Dr Farhan Farooq.
Addressing the event, Provincial Irrigation Minister Kazim Ali Pirzada said he has been serving the public for 24 years and praised the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as the only party truly working for the people. He said the Chief Minister fulfilled every promise made to flood victims, noting that nine out of Punjab’s 11 barrages were repaired ahead of schedule, preventing major damage during the floods.
He added that the visible development in the region – including infrastructure, education, and water management – is the result of the leadership of CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
PML-N leader Saud Majeed also lauded the Chief Minister’s “honest and hardworking” cabinet for minimising losses during the disaster. He said ongoing development projects in Bahawalpur, including universities, colleges, hospitals, and a modern waste management system, reflect the PML-N’s vision and commitment to public service.