By Faizan Khan
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has launched a major compensation program for families affected by recent floods, pledging to restore the dignity of victims while insisting the provincial government managed the crisis independently, without seeking external aid. Speaking at a ceremony in Okara to distribute relief cheques and pre-loaded debit cards, she said the government had allocated 100 billion rupees to cover damages caused by what she described as the worst floods in the region’s history.
“The restoration of flood victims begins in earnest today,” Nawaz said, adding, “I had promised that I would not rest until the last affected person was compensated.” She emphasized that the relief efforts prioritised the self-respect of residents, stating, “In my presence, no one can look down upon the people of Punjab.” She highlighted that nearly 1.2 to 1.3 million people and their livestock had received medical treatment and that relief camps had provided three meals a day.
The compensation scheme combines immediate cash assistance with longer-term support via ATM cards, allowing victims to withdraw up to 300,000 rupees per day. An initial 50,000 rupees is provided at designated counters, with the remainder accessible through the pre-loaded cards; so far, 71,000 accounts have been opened.
Nawaz also emphasised transparency, claiming all doors to corruption had been closed and that the 100-billion-rupee fund was exclusively for flood victims. She assured that a comprehensive complaint system had been established to address grievances.
“In the coming days, it will not even seem like Punjab was hit by a flood,” she said, contrasting her administration’s proactive approach with others that, she argued, “cry and beg for years after a disaster.” The initiative reflects an attempt to combine rapid relief distribution with accountability and dignity for victims, aiming to rebuild both livelihoods and public confidence in the provincial government’s response.
