Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif reaffirmed her government’s commitment to protecting the dignity of Punjab’s people while addressing a flood relief ceremony in Okara on Monday. She declared that Punjab neither sought external assistance nor bowed before anyone to manage the devastating floods. “As long as I am here, no one will dare look down upon the people of Punjab,” she asserted, adding that her government handled the crisis with determination and unity.
During the event, the chief minister announced the formal start of the rehabilitation process for flood-affected families. She explained that Punjab had experienced one of the worst floods in its history, damaging homes, crops, and livestock. However, she emphasized that her administration fulfilled its promise by beginning cheque distribution for victims. “For three weeks, Punjab faced a flood emergency, but neither your Chief Minister, her cabinet, nor the administration remained idle,” she remarked.
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Maryam highlighted that around 10,000 officials participated in the flood survey, all taking an oath in Lahore to serve honestly. So far, 70% of the survey has been completed, and compensation distribution is under way across 15 districts. She said flood victims were treated as “honored guests” and provided with three meals a day, medical aid, and shelter. Nearly 1.3 million cases were handled under relief operations to ensure every affected person received proper care.
She proudly stated that the Punjab government managed the entire rescue and relief process from its own resources without external aid. “Every resource I have is a trust of the people,” she said, announcing that Rs100 billion had been allocated for rehabilitation. Maryam further assured citizens that no corruption would be tolerated. “Not a single rupee will be misused,” she added, revealing that a complaint system has also been launched for transparency and accountability.
Moreover, 72 camps have been set up to distribute compensation through cheques and ATM cards. Each family will receive Rs50,000 in cash and can withdraw up to Rs300,000 daily via ATM. Over 71,000 bank accounts have been opened for flood victims, and free transport is being provided to ensure accessibility. “Today, people across the country cite Punjab as an example of effective governance,” Maryam said, expressing hope that no trace of the floods would remain in a few days.
In her concluding remarks, the chief minister said her mission was to rebuild Punjab stronger than ever. “Unlike others, we didn’t beg or wait for help — we worked for the people,” she asserted. Earlier, Maryam Nawaz distributed cheques among flood victims in Depalpur, inspected relief counters, and personally interacted with families to listen to their concerns, reaffirming her promise to rebuild lives with dignity and transparency.