Punjab is the most prosperous STATE of Pakistan and experiencing rapid growth in human population and vehicular population. The purpose of IDAP is to develop seamless, efficient and high speed integrated transport.
The monsoon rainfall is a regular feature of summers in Pakistan. The severity of the monsoon season varies every year and determines the gravity of floods in the country. The enigma of floods in Pakistan is not new as it traces back to the year of independence 1947 when the first major flood hit Pakistan. Since then nine more floods of even greater magnitude in 1954, 1970, 1988, 1992, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2010, and 2011 have caused austere devastation in the country taking the lives of millions of people and leaving billions of them homeless. The floods in 2011 floods were the worst in the history of Pakistan where almost one-fifth of Pakistan’s total land area was underwater.
The floods took the lives of more than 2000 people and had a direct impact on the lives of 20 million other people by wiping out their property, livelihood and infrastructure. The situation was no different in floods during 2012. The magnitude of floods in 2012 was lesser than of 2011 but it severely affected districts of South Punjab including Rojhan, Rajanpur, Jampur and D G Khan. At least 35 villages of two districts in Punjab were swamped by flood waters following heavy rains during monsoon.
These floods damaged standing crops on hundreds of acres. The government of the Punjab was better prepared to deal with floods in 2012 and responded promptly with rescue and rehabilitation activities in affected areas. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority utilized all available resources for the rehabilitation of flood affected and mitigating their difficulties in calamity-hit area. The government of the Punjab continued its recovery efforts even after the floods were over. In the similar context, the government of the Punjab inaugurated Khadim e Alaa Relief card for families of flood affected areas during 2012. This rehabilitation initiative for flood affected families in Punjab was announced by Chief Minister Punjab, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif during his visit to flood hit areas in 2012.
The inauguration ceremony was held on January 6, 2013 from Rajanpur. According to details relief cards were distributed for 38,196 beneficiaries in Rajanpur, Jampur, Rojhan and DG Khan. The total amount disbursed is 763.92 million rupees. The cards are being given to the families after the third party validation survey conducted by Lead Pakistan whereas payment procedures facilities are being supported through Bank of Punjab.