Punjab government to issue Flood Relief ATM Cards to survivors

The Punjab government has announced the issuance of “Flood Relief ATM Cards” to flood survivors across the province after verification by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), Punjab Land and Revenue Authority (PLRA), and the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra). 

The initiative aims to provide financial compensation to those who suffered losses due to the devastating floods.

Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Irfan Ali Kathia confirmed the move, explaining that these cards would be distributed after a survey of the flood-affected areas, currently underway. The compensation amounts will be based on the extent of losses reported by flood victims.

As part of the ongoing survey, 1,314 teams are working across 27 districts of the province. According to the PDMA, data has been collected from 41,735 flood victims, with crop losses reported by 28,632 farmers across 49,510 acres of land. Additionally, details on 12,500 damaged homes, the loss of 603 livestock, and 2,459 cattle deaths have been compiled.

The distribution of relief will follow the completion of the survey, with amounts allocated based on the severity of individual losses.

Meanwhile, more than 200 villages in Multan, Lodhran, and Bahawalpur remain submerged due to breaches in the Sutlej River embankment, which have kept these areas under water for over 20 days. The government has pledged to repair all breaches within a week to prevent further damage.

Provincial Minister for Irrigation Kazim Ali Pirzada confirmed that four of the seven breaches have been closed, with the remaining breaches expected to be repaired within a week.