PM directs federal ministers to visit flood-affected areas in Punjab

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued important instructions to federal ministers in view of the flood situation in the Chenab River, the Sutlej River, and the Ravi River.

Shahbaz Sharif has ordered federal ministers to immediately go to the affected areas across Punjab and supervise the relief work. The Prime Minister has issued instructions that the process of immediately shifting people living along the river banks to safe places should be made more effective and faster.

He directed that the relief operations should be further accelerated by increasing inter-agency coordination.

In addition, the Prime Minister has also ordered the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and other relevant institutions to remain on high alert.

The Chairman of NDMA has also been ordered to provide full support to the PDMA and immediately evacuate people from the danger areas to safe places.

Speaking at a meeting to review the flood situation and relief operations in various areas, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan is among the countries severely affected by climate change. The recent rains, flash floods, and river overflows have caused massive loss of life and property.

He said that the 2022 floods caused a loss of $30 billion. This time, houses were wiped out due to floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Dealing with climate change is a challenge that cannot be tackled alone.

It is pertinent to note that India released 200,000 cusecs of water into the Ravi River. After continuous rains, the Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej rivers overflowed.

There is a very high level of flood at Headmarala in the Chenab River; the inflow of water was recorded at 696,534 cusecs.

According to the Flood Forecasting Division Lahore, there is a very high level of flood at Gandasinghwala in the Sutlej River, and the water flow has been recorded at 245,236 cusecs.