SWABI, Nov 13: About 500 Watan Cards issued to the flood-hit people of the district were found invalid, said sources at the revenue department.

They said that total 1,375 Watan Cards were issued in the district, however, administration and flood survivors faced great difficulties as 500 cards were invalid.

The areas situated at the banks of the Indus and Kabul rivers were badly affected by the recent flood. The people of these areas have been waiting for the last few months to get Watan Cards. Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti inaugurated distribution of Watan Cards when he visited Anbar area three weeks ago.

“Like other flood devastated regions, the flood-affected families of the district are getting the first installment of Rs20,000 through Watan Cards as compensation for property and other losses,” officials said.

Sources said that great dilemma faced by the district administration was that the numbers of computerised identity cards and addresses of the flood survivors were different from each other. It created confusion, they added. “We don't want to hand over Watan Card to a person, who does not deserve it. But the invalided cards delayed the distribution process,” they added.

They said that district revenue department had given complete record of the flood-affected families, destruction of their homes, damage to road network, bridges, health facilities, schools, watermills and water and electricity supply networks in the 56 union councils of the district.

“Again the officials of revenue department have been assigned to sort out the issue,” they added.

Sources said that District Coordination Officer Syed Abdul Jabar Shah constituted a committee to review the issue and recommend remedial measures, while calling for the acceleration of Watan Cards provision.

The members of the committee would submit their report with the DCO office soon after Eidul Azha. Sources said that the issue created so confusion that some of the officials had also visited the district in this connection.

Sources said that the remaining 874 Watan Cards would be distributed among the affected families soon.

The cards were being given to only those flood victims, whose verification was completed by the officials of district coordination officer office, education department, National Database and Registration Authority and United Bank Limited, they added.