Punjab Health Minister and Chairman Cabinet Committee on Disaster Management Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that rescue operations across the province are being developed on modern lines in accordance with the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to enhance disaster preparedness and public safety.
He expressed these views while chairing a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Disaster Management at the PDMA Headquarters on Saturday, where preparations for the upcoming monsoon season and possible flood situations were reviewed in detail.
Khawaja Salman Rafique informed the meeting that the provincial cabinet has approved Rs7.17 billion for the establishment of new warehouses to strengthen disaster response capacity. He said 13 anti-erosion schemes have been completed, protecting more than 30,000 people and 12,000 acres of land. He added that over Rs49 billion has been paid as compensation to the victims affected by the 2025 floods.
The minister said that an operation has been directed against encroachments in riverbeds and river valleys, while all district administrations have been instructed to complete the cleaning of rivers and canals before the onset of the monsoon season. He emphasized that practical measures are being taken under the Chief Minister’s vision to make Punjab a flood-resilient province.