Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited the flood-hit areas of Layyah district on Tuesday to assess the flood situation and the relief activities carried out in the district. He was briefed about the flood situation, rescue and relief activities and the preparations to overcome the situation arising due to flash floods. He was told that the evacuation from the low-lying areas has been completed and the river embankments are being strengthened.
Shahbaz said that the administration should start rescue and relief operations in flood affected areas of southern Punjab on a war footing. He further said that the local administrations should maintain stocks of medicines, edibles and drinking water in sufficient quantity at all relief camps. The CM directed the administration to ensure the evacuation of people living in low-lying areas near rivers.
More rescue boats should be sent to the flood affected areas of southern Punjab. All government departments should co-ordinate their efforts to help the affected people, he said. Taking notice of reports of inundation of villages in Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur and Layyah districts, the chief minister directed the committee to visit the affected areas immediately. Administration and rescue officials should take all steps to reach the flood affected villages. Steps should be taken to ensure that the affected people are accommodated in relief camps, he said.
The chief minister said that all government departments should monitor the weather and water levels in rivers and take steps when necessary. The flood emergency plan formulated earlier should be strictly implemented, he said. Shahbaz further said that SMS service has been started to give advance warning to the people living near rivers regarding flood situation. He said that this service has been launched for shifting these people to safe places. The chief minister directed Cabinet committee on flood and administrations of concerned districts to continuously monitor the flow of water in rivers and in case of threat of flood, all possible protective measures should be adopted and evacuation of the people living near rivers should be ensured at any cost. He said that he is personally monitoring the situation.