By Mohsin Ali
The Punjab government has announced a new initiative to help flood survivors: “Flood Relief ATM Cards.” These cards will provide financial aid to those who suffered losses in the recent floods. The program is being managed with verification by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), Punjab Land and Revenue Authority (PLRA), and the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra).
Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Irfan Ali Kathia confirmed the move. He said the cards will be handed out after a detailed survey of flood-affected areas. The amount each family receives will depend on the extent of their losses.
To carry out the survey, 1,314 teams are working across 27 districts in Punjab. So far, the PDMA has collected data from 41,735 flood victims. Among them, 28,632 farmers reported crop losses across 49,510 acres. In addition, 12,500 homes were damaged, 603 livestock were lost, and 2,459 cattle died due to the floods.
Relief payments will begin once the survey is complete. Each flood survivor will receive compensation based on how severely they were affected.
Meanwhile, over 200 villages in Multan, Lodhran, and Bahawalpur remain underwater. Breaches in the Sutlej River embankment have left these areas submerged for more than 20 days. The government has promised to repair all breaches within a week to prevent further damage.
Punjab’s Minister for Irrigation, Kazim Ali Pirzada, said four out of the seven breaches have already been closed. The remaining three are expected to be fixed within the next week.
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