The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has unveiled a comprehensive rehabilitation program for flood victims across the province, announcing that special ATM cards will be issued to affected families to ensure transparent and efficient disbursement of relief payments. According to PDMA, a damage assessment survey will be conducted from tomorrow until September 29 in 27 affected districts.

For this purpose, 2,213 teams have been formed to survey 3,775 villages across Punjab. The process will rely on digital survey forms and Android applications to ensure transparency. The collected data will be submitted to the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Assistant Commissioners (ACs) for approval before being forwarded to the Bank of Punjab.

After approval, the Bank will disburse financial assistance to the affected families through specially designed ATM cards. Flood victims whose data is rejected will have the right to appeal before the DC or AC, PDMA stated. A high-level committee, comprising representatives from multiple ministries, has already been set up to oversee the entire process. 

Under the compensation package, owners of fully destroyed brick houses will receive Rs. 1 million, while owners of fully damaged mud houses will get Rs. 500,000. Partially damaged brick houses will be compensated with Rs. 300,000, and partially damaged mud houses with Rs. 150,000. The floods have also damaged 2,040 schools, one university, seven colleges, several THQ hospitals, and 79 healthcare centers, according to PDMA.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)