SIALKOT: PML-N MNA Armghan Subhani said on Monday Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had ordered the Punjab government to declare 300 flood-affected villages calamity-hit.

The villages are in Bajwat, Head Marala and Chenab delta areas near Sambrial. Though a formal notification has yet to be issued, the public agencies have been told to launch relief and rescue activities in these villages, he said.

Mr Subhani told reporters the prime minister made the announcement after taking an aerial view of the villages on Sunday.

He said the Punjab government would survey the losses and release financial compensation to the effected people.

The MNA reviewed rescue and relief operation in the flood-hit areas. The army troops also carried out works in Sialkot, Head Marala, Bajwat and Zafarwal.

He said floodwater was receding from the the 56 villages of Head Marala. These villages included Maachhi Khokharaan, Hasanwal, Kotli Tailiyaan, Ballaanwala, Laalpur, Khanna, Khajooriwal, Bhullah, Kotli Loharaan-East, Kotli Loharaan-West, Chela, Chak Sarwani, Chak Seema and Sherpur.

The MNA said efforts were under way to reconnect the 85 Bajwat flooded villages of Sialkot and Gujrat districts.

These villages included Chobiyaan, Kojey Chak, Mahaal, Saddarpura, Ghazipura, Papeen, Kaliyaal, Jog, Bhainse, Khanu Bhaou, Gangwaal, Kothey Pathaana, Bhajwaal, Dariya Burd, Khondo Chak, Amanpura, Kakwaal, Chohaaney Chak, Pindi Patraara, Pul Bajwaan, Gidhpur, Chonika, Mathiyaal and Surakhpur.

Water was likely to recede from major villages of the Bella Area like Bhagal East, Bhagal-West, Peer Kot, Randheer, Dor, Panwaan, Husainpur, Jamalpur, Kathiyaala, Chak Ikhtiyaar, Chaaokey Khurd, Chaaokey Kalan, Nograan, Rana Behram, Kothey Chishtiyaan, Habeebpur and Nikka-Wadda.Also, Pakistan Rangers Punjab Director General Maj-Gen Tahir Javed Khan visited the border villages along the Sialkot Working Boundary and examined relief and rescue services being rendered there by the Chenab Rangers.

He ordered the Chenab Rangers to set up flood relief centres and medical camps in the villages.

Published in Dawn, September 9th , 2014