JHANG: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif says the government is working round the clock to save lives and properties of the flood-hit people and it will keep working until the last man is saved and rehabilitated.

He was talking to newsmen at the Trimmu Headworks after a briefing given to him on the flood situation around the headworks and the measures taken to save them.

The CM advised the people to leave the vulnerable areas as soon as possible to save their lives. He directed the authorities to accelerate the rescue operation with the help of the provincial disaster management authority.

He said eatables, medicines and other items should be made available to the affected people and any negligence on part of any official would not be tolerated.

Gives Rs1.6m cheque to Wazirabad flood victim’s family

GUJRANWALA: The chief minister visited Wazirabad and Khanki Headworks and gave compensation cheque of Rs1.6million to family of the deceased minor boy who had lost life in the flood.

He went to the residence of Sajjad Ahmad of Sikandarpura locality where Sajjad’s two-year-old son Ahmad Ali was killed and two other sons Mohsan Ali and Ali Hassan were injured when the roof of their house caved in on Monday.

Later, he visited Khanki Headworks.

CHINIOT: Shahbaz Sharif visited Chiniot for the second day on Tuesday.

He went to Mangeeni village and other flood-hit areas through a motorboat.

Meanwhile, the chief minister presided over a meeting of the Cabinet Committee for Flood Relief in Lahore which reviewed the flow of water in rivers and rescue and relief activities in the province.

Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz said provision of financial assistance to the heirs of the persons who died in flood should be completed at the earliest. He said more helicopters and boats should be sent to Jhang and Chiniot.

He directed the authorities to double the number of items in food hampers being provided to the marooned people.

Shahbaz directed the Rescue-1122 director general to immediately reach Jhang along with necessary equipment.

He said all the necessary steps should be taken for protecting Jhang from floods.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2014