Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that the entire country was badly affected by flashfloods due to incessant monsoon rains, and resolved to overcome the flood-related issues with collective efforts.
The prime minister said that heavy downpours in the season had caused human losses, damaged road and infrastructure across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan. During a visit to review rescue and relief operations in flood-hit Faqirani Jat, Oplano and other areas, the prime minister was given a detailed briefing on the situation and the relief efforts. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and federal ministers also accompanied the prime minister.
Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said that he witnessed the vast area which was inundated by floodwater. In Swat and Kalam, flashfloods had caused human and financial losses, swept away road infrastructure and bridges, and now they were headed towards Charsadda and Nowshera, posing a severe threat there, he said, adding the district administrations, rescue agencies and the armed forces had been fully supporting the rescue and relief efforts and evacuating the people to safe places. He said considerable damage was caused to the Mohmand Dam. The PM said that in the flood-affected areas, relief efforts were being carried out. Unfortunately, he said huge losses were witnessed across the country, adding that with joint and continuous efforts, they would overcome the challenge posed by the natural catastrophe.
On the occasion, the prime minister also appreciated the efforts of the chief minister, administration and the armed forces for their rescue and relief operations in the affected areas. The chief secretary, director general of Provincial Disaster Management Authority, deputy commissioner, officials of Pakistan Navy and other relevant authorities briefed the prime minister on the relief operations, flood situation and rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure.
Separately, in a tweet, the prime minister said that he was visiting the flood-affected areas and meeting people. “The magnitude of the calamity is bigger than estimated. Times demand that we come together as one nation in support of our people facing this calamity. Let us rise above our differences & stand by our people who need us today,” the prime minister posted. Meanwhile, the PM said the federal government had allocated a grant of Rs38 billion to support each flood-affected family with disbursement of Rs25,000.
