PM calls for urgent damage reports in flood-hit regions

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed that damage assessments in the flood-affected areas be completed on an emergency basis.

He was chairing a review meeting via video link from New York on the recent flood situation and ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts immediately after his address at the United Nations General Assembly.

PM Shehbaz emphasised that estimates of damage to crops and infrastructure should be completed as soon as possible to enable effective planning for relief and rehabilitation.

The Prime Minister directed the acceleration of relief and rehabilitation operations for flood-affected people. He said we will not rest until the people in flood-affected areas are fully rehabilitated. He instructed Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal to closely monitor relief and rehabilitation operations and to hold regular review meetings.

PM Shehbaz directed the Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to provide full cooperation to the provinces and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs).

He directed the National Highway Authority to expedite restoration work on the flood-affected portion of M-5 near the River Sutlej. The breach on the motorway at Jalalpur Pirwala should be repaired immediately.

The Prime Minister instructed to take all necessary steps to prevent waterborne diseases. He said special measures should be taken to cultivate suitable crops in flood-affected areas.

PM Shehbaz said that he raised the voice of Pakistanis affected by the adverse impacts of climate change at the UN General Assembly (UNGA). He said a developing country like Pakistan is continuously affected by natural disasters caused by climate change.

Read: Flood danger recedes across Pakistan, rehabilitation begins

The meeting was informed that around 350,000 affected people have returned to home from relief camps and tent settlements. People in Sindh are still residing in some camps, but floodwaters are receding rapidly and they are expected to return home soon.

The meeting was further informed that the distribution of food and aid to the affected people is continuing.

The meeting was informed that the Punjab government is taking exemplary measures for the rehabilitation of the victims. Suggestions were also presented regarding crop damage and farmer rehabilitation. The Prime Minister directed that a comprehensive report on damage assessment be prepared and submitted within a week.

Provincial Information and Culture Minister Uzma Zahid Bukhari recently said that the new relief package includes direct compensation for farmers, households, and livestock owners. Affected farmers will receive Rs20,000 per acre, while families whose homes were destroyed will be paid Rs1 million for complete loss and Rs500,000 for partial damage. Compensation of Rs500,000 has also been allocated for cattle losses.

According to official figures, the floods have impacted more than 4.7 million people, including 2.6 million directly and losses of over 2.1 million livestock. Around 27 districts and 4,794 villages along river belts have been affected, with over 2,213 rescue and relief teams deployed in the field.