Punjab Cabinet met here on Monday Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in the chair, disclosed an official. The Cabinet also made important decisions regarding providing relief to the quake-stricken people, their rehabilitation and setting up a tent city in Punjab.
Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi informed the meeting about the measures taken for relief to the quake affectees by the Punjab government. He disclosed that the provincial government had, so far, spent as much as Rs 1.62 billion on extending relief to the affectees. He expressed satisfaction that apart from the President Pervez Musharraf, the NWFP Chief Minister, the Azad Kashmir President and the Prime Minister had also commended the relief-related performance of the Punjab government.
Giving details of "Support A Family" programme, the CM reiterated that a large number of philanthropists have contacted him to take part in the programme and it was heartening to note that the number of such people was increasing day by day. Therefore, he added, the government had decided to immediately open up an account of the programme with the National Bank of Pakistan. "Donations could be given to this account both within and outside Pakistan," he added.
On this occasion, all the members of the cabinet including the advisors announced to support one affected family each.
It may be mentioned that the Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi had already announced to support as many as five families at the very outset of the programme.
Senior Member Board of Revenue, giving briefing at the meeting, disclosed that as many as 6068 truckloads of various relief goods had, so far, been sent to Azad Kashmir and the NWFP earth-stricken people. "Those trucks were comprised of 2166 quilts and blankets, 445 tents and 378 of drugs. Side by side the cash donations and relief goods, the Punjab had also provided manpower for the rehabilitation of the quake-affectees. At the movement, as many as 800 police officials from Punjab were performing duties in the affected areas. In order to establish makeshift schools and hospitals, the Kuwaiti government had been requested for supplying 65 large tents, measuring 3000 square feet," he added.
Dilating on the Punjab Emergency Act, Pervaiz expressed lamentation that the system, which the present government inherited to cope with the incidents of fire, explosion and accident etc, was almost worn out.
Therefore, he added, the government has devised a programme to protect the life and property of the citizens. He pointed out that the emergency ambulance service, ie, 'Rescue 1122' launched as a pilot project in the province, was a part of the same programme. He expressed satisfaction that the service gave exemplary service during the last nine months.
He said that the objective of the Punjab Emergency Service was to create such a body in the province as might help, to the possible extent, the injured in case of accidents, save them from death or permanent disability. He directed the administration to immediately procure the modern-day gadgets used to trace out the persons trapped under the debris in case of quake and other calamities.