PM Shehbaz reviews flood situation from Beijing, orders swift relief measures

Beijing (Web Desk): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif presided over a meeting from Beijing to assess the ongoing flood situation and the status of relief operations.

He directed the concerned departments to accelerate efforts for relief and rehabilitation in the flood-affected regions of Punjab and Sindh.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister was briefed on the recent flood conditions across the country and the progress of rescue and relief activities.

According to Pakistan Television reports, the Prime Minister temporarily paused his busy schedule to personally oversee the preparations and ongoing efforts of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and other rescue agencies during this significant monsoon spell.

The meeting was attended by the Chairman of NDMA, Chief Secretaries of Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, along with representatives of relevant agencies involved in the relief work. They updated the Prime Minister on the current flood situation and the progress of relief operations.

The Prime Minister directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) and the Ministry of Energy to prioritize the restoration of communication and electricity infrastructure affected by the floods.

He emphasized that the federal and provincial governments, along with all relevant institutions, should continue to work with full cooperation to provide aid to flood-affected families, relocate them to safe places, and restore damaged infrastructure.

Special attention was urged on restoration and relief operations in Punjab and Sindh provinces due to the rising flood situation there. The Prime Minister instructed the NDMA Chairman to maintain close coordination with provincial disaster management authorities and provide all possible assistance to the provincial governments. He also ordered the swift search and rescue of missing persons due to the floods.

It was reported in the meeting that rivers Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej are being closely monitored for rising water levels. Regulation of dams and barrages is ongoing to manage the flooding risk.

The Prime Minister was informed about the increasing flood threat caused by rising water levels at locations such as Trimu, Balochi, Sudhnai, GS Wala, and Suleman Ki along the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers. NDMA continues to collaborate fully with provincial administrations and disaster management authorities to handle the expected flooding.

It was highlighted that a severe flood wave is expected to reach the Guddu Barrage by the afternoon of September 6th, following heavy inflows at the Panjnad site. NDMA is coordinating with the Sindh government to make adequate arrangements for the anticipated flood wave at Guddu.

The Prime Minister was briefed that rescue teams including Rescue 1122, Pakistan Army, Rangers, NGOs, and provincial disaster management authorities are actively involved in relief efforts. Aid convoys are continuously dispatched to affected areas, and restoration of electricity and communication systems is progressing swiftly.

The meeting was attended in person by the Prime Minister along with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, and Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar in Beijing. The NDMA Chairman and senior officials from relevant departments joined the meeting via video link from Pakistan.