PINDI BHATTIAN (DNA): Punjab Government started payment of financial assistance to the flood affected people Wednesday.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif launched the programme by attending a ceremony in Pindi Bhattian.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said payment of the first installment of compensation amount to the affectees will be completed before Eidul Azha. He said payment of the second installment will begin on the 20th of this month.

Shahbaz Sharif said the government has already given one point six million rupees to the heirs of each person killed in the flood.

He said committees comprising retired judges, military officers and headmasters will be constituted to monitor the process of payment of the compensation amount to the affected people.

The federal and the provincial governments have set aside an amount of Rs. 50 billion for compensation of the flood affectees.

In the first phase, twenty five thousand rupees are being paid to each affected family in sixteen districts of the province.

Seventy-eight distribution centres have been opened for the purpose in the flood-hit districts of the province.

The provincial government has evolved a mechanism for distribution of financial assistance under which no deserving person will remain deprived of his right.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said sincere and concrete efforts of federal and Punjab governments for the rehabilitation of flood victims are admirable.

He was addressing the flood affectees of Shahpur tehsil during a compensation cheques distribution ceremony in district Sargodha on Wednesday.

He said all institutions including Pakistan Army, Air Force and police have played a very constructive role during flood and provide food and other relief goods to the victims.

Criticizing the sit-ins leadership he said, they should postpone their protest and step forward to help their flood affected brothers and sisters.