Army chief visits flood-hit areas of Sindh

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited flood-hit areas in interior Sindh and met troops busy in relief efforts providing administrative and medical care to affected people in Noshero Feroz, the military said on Thursday.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that the COAS also interacted with the locals and assured them that the Pakistan Army will continue to serve people to mitigate their suffering till they are rehabilitated.

Later, Gen Bajwa was flown for aerial reconnaissance of the flood-hit areas of the province.

Earlier on arrival, the army chief was received by Lieutenant General Muhammad Saeed, Corps Commander Karachi.

Drenching monsoon spells and apocalyptic floods have killed nearly 1,700 people across the country, mainly in Sindh and Balochistan provinces, the two hardest-hit regions.

The country has also suffered staggering financial losses amounting to $40 billion, mainly in terms of infrastructure and agriculture.

The World Bank fears that the economic backlash inflicted by the super floods might push another 10 million of the country's roughly 230 million people below the poverty line.

Although a large number of victims have started returning to their homes amid receding floodwaters in many areas in the two provinces, tens of thousands are still living in shelter camps and tents.