LAHORE: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Monday condemning the ransacking of a church in Mardan, said that the federal government would provide financial assistance for repairing the church.

He made this assurance to the Christian community after Pervaiz Rafique, a PPP Minority MPA raised the issue at a cheque distribution ceremony held at Governor House in Lahore.

The ceremony was also attended by Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khan Khosa, Leader of the House in Senate Jahangir Badar, Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, Federal Ministers Samina Khalid Ghurki, Nazar Muhammad Gondal, State Minster Imtiaz Safdar Warraich, MNAs and MPAs, Hindu leader Munawar Chan, Bishop of Lahore Alexander John Malik, LCCI's office-bearers and a large number of party workers.

The prime minister gave away compensation cheques amounting Rs 400,000 and Rs 100,000 each to the heirs of the 20 killed and 11 injured workers burnt in the fire that erupted in a shoe factory on Bund Road, respectively.

At the ceremony, the prime minister expressed his profound grief and sorrow with the bereaved families as well as the injured workers. He termed the fire incidents in Lahore and Karachi one of the biggest tragedies for the nation.