SHEIKHUPURA: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has ordered an inquiry into the embezzlement of funds earmarked for desilting of two main drains.

He gave the order during his visit to a flood relief camp near Khan Kot on the Muridke-Narowal Road on Sunday when a man registered his complaint against the corruption of the officials concerned.

The CM expressed annoyance when the complainant told him that desilting of the two drains, Nulllah Bhair and Nullah Aik, was not carried out in the last three years due to which both the drains overflowed and wreaked havoc in the area.

Told funds for desilting embezzled for three years; non-desilted drains worsened flood situation

He ordered the irrigation secretary to look into the matter and take stern action if any official was found guilty of embezzling funds earmarked for desilting. He said all possible measures would be taken to provide facilities to the flood victims.

Talking to the media, Shahbaz urged the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leadership to visit flood-hit areas instead of holding sit-ins in Islamabad. He said Imran Khan had signed his political death by forgetting flood affectees, adding that the Jashan was celebrated in both the sit-ins on the postponement of Chinese power projects.

It is pertinent to mention here that the by-election in PP-162 would also be held on Sept 22 and the CM’s visit had also been termed as a part of election campaign by some analysts.

Shahbaz visited the villages affected by flood in Sheikhupura, Narowal and on Muridke Road. His helicopter could not depart in the morning due to bad weather and he went to Sheikhupura by road and visited Tiba Kot Yaqoob, Khankot, Batolawan, Dost Muhammad and adjacent villages on Narowal-Muridke Road.

He met affectees and inquired about their problems. He warned the officials that no negligence would be tolerated in relief activities.

The chief minister also personally distributed relief items and eatables among the flood victims from his helicopter in the areas of Head Muhammadwala, Shujaabad and Sher Shah in South Punjab.

He reviewed flood situation and relief activities in Muzaffargarh and Multan districts and distributed relief items among the flood victims through the helicopter.

Talking to media in Multan, he said for the first time the government had given funds of Rs100 million to each flood-hit district and further resources would be provided, if needed.

Shahbaz was scheduled to visit Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan on Sunday, however, he postponed the visits due to the tragic incident of capsizing of boat in Multan and the situation of Muzaffargarh.