COAS directs army to 'take all measures' for flood relief operations in Balochistan

Army shall undertake this assistance effort as a national obligation, says army chief

Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has directed the Pakistan Army to 'undertake all measures' to assist the provincial government of Balochistan as the province reels under the devastation wrought by record floods, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

In a phone call with Corps Commander Quetta Lieutenant General Asif Ghafoor, the army chief directed the commander to assist in "rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts on an emergency basis in coordination with civil administration".

"Unprecedented rains have caused devastation to human life and communication infrastructure, especially in Balochistan. Army resources be utilised to help affected population and restore critical communication infrastructure as an immediate temporary measure," the military's media wing quoted the army chief as saying. 

General Bajwa added that the Army stands with the affected people in this difficult time and "shall undertake this assistance effort as a national obligation".

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched a Rs37.2 billion Flood Relief Cash Programme on Friday to provide Rs25,000 cash assistance to each of 1.5 million families across the flood-stricken areas of the country.

Read Cash distribution among flood victims begins

On Thursday the Pakistan Army said that its rescue and relief efforts were underway in various flood-hit areas of Balochistan and Punjab after heavy rains lashed both provinces.

According to the ISPR, the army troops were busy in relief activities in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Naseerabad and Lasbela.

The army assisted in transporting victims and their belongings to safer places. "Army medical teams are providing medical care to affected people," the military's media wing added.

The Frontier Corps (FC) in Balochistan deployed boats in the flood-affected areas of the region in order to rescue people who had been trapped by the heavy rainfall.

The COAS offered reassurance that the Pakistan Army will support flood victims "in this difficult testing time and shall undertake this assistance effort as a national obligation.”