Punjab has not asked for assistance from federation: Azma Bokhari
Pakistan
Says CM closely monitoring every grain of wheat
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said on Thursday that Punjab had not sought help from the federation or anyone else, and is facing one of the toughest calamities with its own resources.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, the provincial minister said that the situation in Jalalpur Pirwala is serious. Wherever negligence or shortcomings were found, efforts were made to address them. The Chief Minister herself will meet the families of those who lost their lives in Jalalpur Pirwala tomorrow.
She said that at present there is no alarming flood situation at two major barrages in Punjab. The technical committee will decide about breaching embankments, as such decisions are not political but purely technical.
She stated that Punjab has not asked for assistance from the federation or any other party; whatever the province is doing, it is managing with its own resources. In flood-affected areas, 490 medical camps and 412 veterinary camps are operational, providing medical aid to victims and their livestock.
She added that yesterday, an incident involving a private boat operator came to light where he was demanding money from flood victims to take them to safety. The Assistant Commissioner of Jalalpur Pirwala has been removed from his post over poor arrangements.
The provincial minister further said that in Khanewal, wheat was not secured in time, resulting in damage. The Punjab government had given wheat hoarders a three-day deadline. Currently, a crackdown is underway against hoarders, and no one will be allowed to create artificial shortages to raise the price of flour and bread.
She said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is closely monitoring every grain of wheat. A reduction of Rs. 700 per maund has been witnessed in wheat prices, and any unjustified hike in flour prices will not be tolerated.
The PML-N leader added that relief goods sent by the Saudi government and Shah Faisal Trust were distributed among flood victims yesterday, and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz will soon announce a major relief package for the flood-affected people.
