Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif

on Tuesday assured the flood affected people that the government was

fully determined to rehabilitate them and would not leave them in

this hour of trial.

      Talking to flood affected people during his visit to the

district, the Prime Minister said that the government would

construct their damaged homes and compensate for the livestock

losses.

      "It is our duty and we are not doing any favour, despite 

shortage of resources, the government is doing its level best to

reach out to the affected people," he added.

      The Prime Minister said Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz

Sharif was personally supervising the rescue and relief activities

in all the flood hit areas.

      Shahbaz was working day and night and shuffling between the

areas daily, he added.

      The Prime Minister said for coping with such catastrophic

situation, there should be ample availability of resources.

      There should be availability of resources; there should be

progress, besides a boost in the agriculture and industrial

activities so that people could reap financial benefits, he said,

adding that such economic uplift and availability of resources would

make their homes and dykes more secure.

      There should be progress in the country so that people get job

opportunities; Pakistan should increase its export, he opined 

      He assured the people that the government would spend maximum

on the rehabilitation and relief efforts.    

      He also thanked Minister of State for Health Saira Tarar

Afzal, provincial and district administration, rescue, relief teams

and workers for alleviating the sufferings of the flood affected

people.     

      He said such a situation grieved him greatly and for showing

solidarity with the affected people in this hour of trial, he

himself had arrived there.

      The Prime Minister said that nobody was expecting such high

flood, still the local administration was endeavouring to overcome

the challenge.

      He said that survey was being conducted to evaluate the

property damages and loss to livestock and crops. 

      Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz

Rashid and DCO Hafizabad also accompanied the Prime Minister.

      On the occasion, the Prime Minister was briefed about the

relief and rescue operations.

      He was apprised by the officials that so far 11,000 stranded

people had been evacuated from the flood hit areas of Hafizabad. A

total of 10 medical centers were set up, besides distribution of

food items and water was also made.  

      The Prime Minister directed the officials concerned to speed

up their relief and rescue activities with all the available

resources.

      He also directed evacuation of livestock to safer places.