LAHORE: Chief Minister Parvez Elahi on Sunday directed the Mianwali administration and the departments concerned to remain alert in the wake of flood threat.

Mr Elahi directed officials to complete preparations to cope with any untoward situation. All resources should be utilised for timely evacuation of people, he said. He directed the administration to ensure surplus stock of medicines, clean drinking water, fodder for the livestock and other necessary items, adding that the flow of Indus river should be monitored round-the-clock.

The chief minister also directed the officers concerned to visit the site and review the river dykes and the safety gates. He said the boats, dewatering sets and other necessary gadgets should remain functional.

Meanwhile, the chief minister has welcomed PTI chairman Imran Khan’s initiative to hold an International Telethon to help the flood-hit. He hoped that the funds and material collected through the telethon would greatly help the hapless people in Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.

The chief minister stressed that the flood affectees should be supported without any discrimination. He urged the philanthropists to generously contribute their donations in the accounts of Punjab and KP chief ministers’ relief funds.

LCCI PRESIDENT: The chief minister met a delegation led by Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Nauman Kabir who presented him a cheque of Rs10 million for the CM Relief Fund on behalf of the LCCI.

The chief minister appreciated the spirit of the office-bearers of LCCI to help the flood affectees. He said the traders and industrialists had always played their role in every difficult and emergency situation.

The chief minister said parking plazas would be constructed near the famous business centres in Lahore. A plan had been chalked out to construct a parking plaza at Anarkali for the convenience of the traders and the consumers. He also stated that a revenue record desk would be set up for the facilitation of the traders and industrialists at the LCCI.

Nauman Kabir extended an invitation to the chief minister to participate as a chief guest in the Export Trophy Award ceremony, which was duly accepted.

ADVISER: Adviser to Chief Minister on Information Omar Sarfaraz Cheema says the Taunsa city has been protected due to timely measures taken by the Punjab government.

Speaking to media persons after visiting the PDMA Control Room on Sunday, Cheema said excellent rescue and relief measures had been taken to cope with the flood. He said people were protesting against inflated electricity and fuel prices in Punjab, adding that no protest was made by the people over flood in Punjab.

Cheema said the incompetent federal government could realise the gravity of the flood after one month.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2022