PM Shehbaz directs NDMA to ensure relief for citizens in flood-hit areas

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to provide every possible assistance and relief to people in flood-affected areas.</p> <p>According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the prime minister gave the directives during a meeting with NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik.</p> <p>The prime minister directed that “all available resources should be utilised to provide every possible assistance and relief to the people in flood-affected areas”.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/PTVNewsOfficial/status/2088519001282625780'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/PTVNewsOfficial/status/2088519001282625780"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>He further instructed the NDMA to maintain effective coordination with relevant provincial institutions and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs).</p> <p>The prime minister also appreciated the use of artificial intelligence and modern technology at the National Emergencies Operation Centre.</p> <p>During the meeting, the NDMA chairman briefed the prime minister on the country’s weather situation, particularly the flood situation in the wake of monsoon rains.</p> <p>The chairman also briefed the prime minister on relief activities in flood-affected areas and measures being taken for the rehabilitation of flood victims.</p> <p>With the cooperation of the federal government, NDMA relief operations in flood-affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) will continue, the statement quoted the chairman as saying.</p> <p>According to the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://ndma.gov.pk/sitrepm">NDMA</a>, 155 people have lost their lives and 460 have been injured in rain-related incidents from June 26 to August 14.</p> <p>Monsoon rains fall across the region from June to September, offering respite from the summer heat and are crucial to replenishing water supplies.</p> <p>However, heavy downpours also trigger deadly floods, landslides and displacement, particularly in vulnerable, poorly drained, or densely populated areas.</p> <p>On Friday, the Flood Forecasting Division of the Pakistan Meteorological Department <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2022937/chenab-ravi-nullahs-may-enter-high-flood-category">warned </a>of possible high flooding in storm-water nullahs linked to the Chenab and Ravi rivers from Aug 15 to 21 as flows in these waterways continue to rise.</p> This development from dawn.com highlights ongoing changes in the sector.