Rains, floods: PM pledges support to survivors
Chairing a high-level meeting, the prime minister announced that members of the federal cabinet would donate one month's salary to support ongoing relief efforts in the worst-affected districts of KP. 'In this hour of crisis, there are no federal or provincial governments,' the prime minister said. 'We must ensure the aid and rehabilitation of affected people.'
He insisted that political divisions must be set aside, describing flood relief as a national moral imperative. 'Helping our disaster-struck brethren is our national duty,' he said. 'This is not the time for politics; it is the time to serve and to soothe the pain of the people.'
Additional relief goods being dispatched on PM's order
The prime minister directed all federal ministries and institutions to intensify support on the ground. He ordered federal ministers to personally supervise the restoration of electricity, water supply, road infrastructure, and essential services in KP, GB and AJK.
Until the last person in the affected areas is assisted and the basic infrastructure is restored, Sharif declared, the relevant federal ministers will remain in the field.
The meeting was briefed on the extent of the destruction. Preliminary reports from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) estimate damages of over Rs126 million to public and private infrastructure. A total of 456 relief camps have been set up and more than 400 rescue operations conducted across the region.
Convoys of relief goods continue to reach affected communities, and Prime Minister Sharif instructed officials to prioritise aid to the most severely impacted districts. He also directed the NDMA to immediately present a final damage assessment and to prepare a comprehensive relief distribution plan.
The prime minister appointed Federal Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs Amir Muqam to oversee the distribution of aid and rehabilitation work in the north.
Meanwhile, the prime minister issued directives to the Minister for Communications, Aleem Khan, to personally monitor the restoration of roads and bridges, and to the Federal Minister for Power, Awais Leghari, to ensure the restoration of electricity in flood-hit areas on a priority basis.
PM Sharif also stressed that the National Highway Authority (NHA) should make no distinction between national and provincial roads, and instead focus on opening all access routes to ensure the smooth delivery of aid.
He also directed the Ministry of Health to dispatch medical teams and essential medicines to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and to establish emergency medical camps, while the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is to be activated to assist affected families.
According to NDMA forecasts shared during the meeting, the monsoon season is expected to continue until at least the second week of September, with two additional rain spells anticipated before the end of the month. Six major downpours have already caused extensive flooding across the region.
The meeting was attended by several ministers and officials reporting live from disaster zones, including Amir Muqam from Swat, Minister for Power Awais Leghari from KP, and senior officials from Malakand and Gilgit.
The prime minister concluded the meeting with a solemn prayer for those who had lost their lives in the flooding, and for the swift recovery of the injured.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
From quotas to meritocracy
Pakistan's reliance on government hiring quotas is a well-intentioned but flawed tool for addressing inequality. While designed to uplift marginalised communities, federal quotas have often compromised meritocracy, bred inefficiency and fueled resentment. Recent moves, such as the decision earlier this year to abolish 30,968 public sector jobs and end the discriminatory "son quota", signal a welcome shift toward merit-based hiring. Islamabad and the provinces should take note of the AJK High Court's recent order to abolish quotas in the state. While AJK's quotas made sense when they were announced — to give job opportunities to refugees from Indian Occupied Kashmir — today, the people taking advantage of these quotas are second, third and fourth generation refugees. If they still need to rely on quotas, rather than their own skills and qualifications, to find work after decades of preferential treatment, both they and the system have failed. It is also worth noting that the protests that led to former Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina fleeing her country were triggered by similar quotas that supposedly benefitted the families of independence war heroes, but in practice, were directed towards her political cronies, most of whom were the children and grandchildren of influential independence figures. This is proof enough that the government should eliminate most federal quotas while retaining targeted safeguards at lower levels for truly vulnerable groups like women and religious minorities. The benefits need not even be at the provincial level - many local governments can accommodate genuine vulnerable groups. The point should be to ensure that people can rise on the economic ladder, not necessarily to give them a path to power. Quota employees of local governments are likelier to live in backwards areas, which will lead them to use their own newfound wealth and influence to effect positive changes in these areas. Provincial governments should also shift focus from hiring and relocating people from backwards areas to investing in developing those areas so that they catch up with the 21st century.
Express Tribune
7 hours ago
- Express Tribune
PM Shehbaz, Field Marshal Munir visit flood-hit K-P, assure full support to victims
PM Shehbaz, COAS during briefing on the ongoing rescue and relief operations in K-P on August 20. Photo: PID Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir on Wednesday visited flood-affected districts of Swat, Buner, Shangla and Swabi, pledging that every available national resource would be mobilised to accelerate recovery and restore normalcy. According to the Prime Minister's Office, prime minister and field marshal received a comprehensive briefing on rescue and relief operations in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Federal ministers and senior officials also joined the visit. The Prime Minister and COAS received a comprehensive briefing on the ongoing rescue and relief operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. — Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) August 20, 2025 During their interaction with survivors, Shehbaz assured victims of the federal government's and Pakistan Army's unwavering support. 'We will extend maximum assistance in this critical hour,' he said, while appreciating the 'tireless dedication' of the armed forces and civil administration. Premier also drew attention towards illegal encroachments, timber smuggling and mining in worsening the disaster. He stressed that Pakistan 'must act as a hard state where no one is above the law' and directed action against violators. PM said more than 350 people had been killed in K-P alone, while nationwide casualties exceeded 700. The prime minister disbursed relief cheques among victims and announced seven days of free electricity for affected households. He also ordered immediate repair of damaged road infrastructure, regardless of whether it fell under provincial or federal jurisdiction. براہِ راست: وزیرِاعظم کی ضلع بونیر میں حالیہ بارشوں و سیلاب کے متاثرین سے ملاقات — Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) August 20, 2025 'Hotels and houses built on waterways increase the impact of floods,' Shehbaz warned, calling for stricter policies to prevent illegal construction and protect natural water channels. He also urged the preservation of forests, noting that deforestation was a factor behind destructive cloudbursts. Recalling the 2022 floods, Shehbaz said hundreds of thousands of acres of crops were destroyed and homes washed away in Sindh, prompting Rs100 billion in federal aid. 'Today, with the support of all stakeholders, the government is fully committed to facing this new challenge,' he said. The prime minister stressed that there should be no politics in times of crisis. He praised K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin, the armed forces and civil administration for their relief efforts. He also lauded the support of Field Marshal Munir, 'under whose cooperation the government is striving to stabilise the economy.' Pakistan ranks among the world's 10 most climate-vulnerable countries, Shehbaz noted, adding that climate change, deforestation and unchecked development have amplified the scale of natural disasters. COAS interacted with troops, police and civil administration personnel involved in rescue efforts, lauding their selfless commitment in assisting victims of floods and torrential rains. — Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) August 20, 2025 Field Marshal Asim Munir also interacted with troops, police and civil personnel engaged in relief efforts, commending their 'selfless commitment' and directing formations to 'spare no effort in alleviating the hardships of flood-stricken families.'
Business Recorder
16 hours ago
- Business Recorder
PAF launches flood relief operation in GB, evacuates 75 stranded
Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has evacuated 75 stranded individuals from Gilgit-Baltistan in a large-scale flood relief operation, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Wednesday. 'Demonstrating unwavering resolve amidst difficult weather conditions and rugged mountainous terrain, PAF C-130 aircraft airlifted 7 tons of dry rations, daily use eatables and life-saving medicines from PAF Base Nur Khan to Gilgit,' the ISPR said. It added that the consignment will be distributed in remote flood-affected valleys in coordination with National Disaster Management Authority. 'Over the coming days, PAF aircraft and ground teams will remain engaged in sustained relief operations, delivering food, medicines, shelter and medical aid to vulnerable communities.' The timely and determined response by PAF has brought renewed hope to flood-hit families in Gilgit-Baltistan, reaffirming the unflinching resolve of Pakistan Armed Forces to stand shoulder to shoulder with the nation in every hour of trial, added the ISPR. As heavy monsoon rains continue to wreak havoc, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed an intensified and wide-reaching response to relief and rehabilitation efforts across the flood-affected area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The prime minister called for an uninterrupted electricity supply to the flood-stricken districts of KP for at least one week. He also instructed that all formalities related to the disbursement of financial aid to victims be completed without delay. NDMA officials told the meeting that more than 25,000 people have been rescued since the onset of flooding. A total of 411 medical camps have been established nationwide – 308 of them in KP alone. The Ministry of Finance informed the meeting that an additional Rs4 billion has been allocated to sustain ongoing rescue and relief operations. Rain victims: ECC approves relief package Meanwhile, NDMA has warned of more intense monsoon spells across the country until September 10.
