LAHORE: Philanthropists, industrialists and traders met Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday and presented cheques worth Rs30 million for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the IDPs of North Waziristan.

According to a handout, Shahbaz commended the spirit of help and assistance of the donors towards the IDPs.

He said on his appeal people from different walks of life were donating generously for rehabilitation of the displaced families. He said the government was spending every penny of the donations with honesty.

He further said the Punjab government had dispatched relief items and medicines worth millions of rupees for the displaced persons as well as fodder for their livestock. He said financial help was also being provided to the affected families and the first instalment of Rs7,000 per family had been given. He claimed financial assistance of Rs350 million had so far been provided to the displaced families.

The chief minister directed Board of Revenue senior member to immediately distribute the second instalment of cash assistance among the displaced persons. He said rehabilitation of the affectees was a collective responsibility and it was time to stand by the IDPs. He said the government and people of Punjab would not leave the displaced people alone in this hour of need and all-out resources would be provided to help them.

He said the Punjab government had already announced setting up of a modern hospital, educational institute for children and vocational institute in the affected area after restoration of peace, the handout stated.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2014