Lahore:
In a shocking revelation, it has emerged that private boat operators in flood-hit areas of Punjab have been charging desperate families exorbitant amounts as high as Rs 100,000 per family to ferry them to safety.
According to reports from Jalalpur Peerwala, the so-called “boat mafia” has been demanding Rs 10,000 per individual and up to Rs 100,000 per family. Similar complaints have surfaced in Liaquatpur, where victims say their misery has been turned into a business opportunity. In some cases, families reported being asked to hand over livestock, such as goats or cows, in exchange for a single passenger seat.
The exploitation prompted swift action from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, who condemned the profiteering and ordered an immediate crackdown. “No one will be allowed to exploit people under the cover of floods,” she said, directing that all rescue boats would now operate under government control. Private operators, she added, would be compensated by the government rather than victims.
A spokesperson for the Chief Minister confirmed that commissioners and deputy commissioners in affected districts, including Multan, have been instructed to keep close watch on the situation. The goal, officials stressed, is to end the looting by private boat owners and ensure that relief operations remain transparent and accessible to all.
For thousands of displaced families, the move offers a glimmer of hope that their struggle for survival will no longer be compounded by financial exploitation.
