LAHORE, Nov 23: The Punjab government made on Wednesday Disaster Relief Management Society which would initially run its ‘Adopt-a-Family’ programme but eventually provide relief in all calamities in future. The DRMS would start running the project in the first week of December. Former chief secretary Hafeez Akhtar Randhawa was made chief executive of the body which has been registered under the Companies Act.

The announcement to this effect was made by Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi while presiding over a meeting here.

Mr Randhawa was appointed Bank of Punjab’s chairman after his retirement but was removed after his quarrel with the outgoing chief secretary Kamran Rasool.

His appointment has been made after the demolition of his anti-lobby in the Punjab and it was stated that present chief secretary Salman Siddique had been instrumental in bringing him back into the administrative fold.

The Punjab government has already changed the senior officials who were appointed by Kamran Rasool, including P&D chairman Sibtain Fazle Haleem and additional chief secretary Khushnood Lashari.

Meanwhile, the chief minister said the DRMS was a permanent body which would function from his secretariat. His initiative had been appreciated at all levels and a large number of local and foreign donors were contacting the government for participating in it.

He said the programme would help rehabilitate a large number of earthquake affected people. It would help alleviate their lot and they would be able to have a direct contact with the donors. The society would assist them in getting employment and health or educational facilities.

The chief minister said under the programme donors would adopt families initially for one year. The loss of life and property was immense and the challenge would have to be met unitedly by all.