PM Shehbaz directs NDMA to ensure relief for citizens in flood-hit areas

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to extend all possible aid and relief to citizens affected by flood disasters, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. During a meeting with NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik, the PM emphasized the need to utilize all available resources for providing relief to those impacted by the floods.

He directed the NDMA to collaborate effectively with relevant provincial institutions and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs).

The NDMA presented a briefing to the Prime Minister on the country’s current weather situation, specifically focusing on the flood scenario due to ongoing monsoon rains. They also discussed the relief operations in flood-affected regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), as well as measures taken for the rehabilitation of flood victims.

As of August 14, the NDMA reported that 155 people had lost their lives and 460 sustained injuries due to monsoon-induced incidents. While monsoon rains are essential for replenishing water supplies, heavy downpours often lead to devastating floods, landslides, and displacement, particularly in vulnerable areas. On Friday, the Pakistan Meteorological Department warned of potential high flooding in storm-water nullahs linked to the Chenab and Ravi rivers, as the flow in these waterways continues to rise.