Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that the government would leave no stone unturned to help those affected by the torrential rains and ensuing flash floods that have caused widespread death and devastation in the country.
According to the prime minister’s office, Nawaz chaired a meeting at the PM House on Saturday to assess the damage to life and property caused by rains and floods in various parts of Pakistan. He lauded the armed forces and provincial governments for their relief efforts and rescue operations. He urged his cabinet members and MPs to visit the affected areas to ensure that relief activities are conducted smoothly and efficiently.
The premier advised that all efforts to evacuate people and livestock should be conducted immediately. He recommended that evacuation should be carried out after all national highways are opened. According to him, the governments of Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) should coordinate with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to ensure speedy rehabilitation.
During the meeting, Maj-Gen Muhammad Saeed Aleem, the chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), informed the prime minister about the ongoing relief efforts at the district, provincial and national levels to cope with the emergency.
The NDMA chairman expressed concern over the high incidence of urban flooding in Lahore and Rawalpindi. He added that high flood levels had also been reported in the Chenab and Jhelum rivers, putting several areas of Rawalpindi and Gujranwala at risk. The flood levels at Marala, Khanki and Qadirabad were also reportedly very high, he added.
The NDMA chairman also gave a detailed briefing to the premier on the losses caused by heavy rains and ensuing flash floods.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 7th, 2014.
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