Rs186 million scheme approved to prevent nullah overflow: Salman

By Muhammad Shahzad, Lahore Pakistan
LAHORE: An important meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Disaster Management Punjab was held at the PDMA Head Office under the chairmanship of Provincial Minister and Chairman of the committee Khawaja Salman Rafique.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Emergency Services Dr. Rizwan Naseer, DG PDMA Irfan Ali Kathia, and other concerned officers.
During the session, a Rs186 million scheme was approved to prevent the overflow of Nallah Shahbaz Purdwara in Gujrat, in line with directives from Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. Additionally, a Rs32 million project was sanctioned to prevent erosion of the River Jhelum in Sargodha Bhera, while Rs40 million was approved for protection against sheet flooding in Sialkot. A Rs59 million allocation was also approved for drought management in the Bahawalpur Division.
Khawaja Salman Rafique stated that the Punjab government, under CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has already disbursed Rs51 billion to flood victims. Immediate measures are being taken to protect agricultural land in Muzaffargarh from erosion of the River Chenab. Protective projects worth over Rs92 million have been discussed for flood erosion prevention in Jhang, and funds are being considered to provide drinking water to tribal areas of Dera Ghazi Khan.
DG PDMA Irfan Ali Kathia briefed the meeting on the drought situation in Cholistan, including proposals to extend the PARCO pipeline and construct protective dams to safeguard the local population. Updates on disaster risk reduction projects were also presented. Khawaja Salman Rafique directed provision of umbrellas and jerry cans to mitigate the expected drought.
Commissioners of Faisalabad, DG Khan, Sargodha, Gujranwala, and Bahawalpur divisions participated via video link, along with Deputy Commissioners of Faisalabad, Sargodha, Gujrat, Jhang, Muzaffargarh, Sialkot, Bahawalpur, and DG Khan.