Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting in Islamabad to review the ongoing monsoon rains, the resulting flood situation, and the country’s preparedness for any emergency.
The Prime Minister directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs), and provincial governments to remain in constant coordination and ensure all relevant institutions are fully prepared to respond to any emergency caused by the ongoing monsoon spell.
He instructed the NDMA to provide timely weather forecasts and flood alerts to all federal and provincial authorities, enabling swift preventive action. He also directed Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal to chair daily meetings of the Flood Committee to continuously assess the situation and formulate an effective response strategy.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed the importance of keeping early warning systems fully operational for Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and flash floods in the country’s northern regions, warning that climate change continues to pose serious risks despite Pakistan’s minimal contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions.
“The government is rapidly implementing short-, medium-, and long-term measures to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change,” the Prime Minister said, adding that every effort must be made to minimise loss of life and property during the current monsoon season.
During the meeting, the NDMA, along with chief secretaries from all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, briefed the Prime Minister on recent monsoon-related damages, rescue operations and rehabilitation efforts.
Officials informed the meeting that the NDMA is providing full support and resources to provincial governments in response to flooding in northern Pakistan and the ongoing heatwave in Sindh and Balochistan. A major spell of monsoon rains is expected over the next two days in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and southern Sindh, while another significant nationwide spell is forecast from the second week of September.
The meeting was informed that the Flood Committee, established on the Prime Minister’s instructions, is meeting regularly to monitor the situation and coordinate rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures.
According to the latest figures, the current monsoon spell has claimed 110 lives, left 360 people injured, damaged 796 houses, and resulted in the deaths of 376 livestock.
Officials also warned that the ongoing El Niño phenomenon has accelerated glacier melting in Pakistan’s northern regions, increasing the risk of GLOFs and flash floods over the coming month. Authorities have already identified vulnerable areas and are implementing preventive measures.
The meeting was further informed that prompt action has helped control urban flooding in central Punjab, including Lahore, while drainage operations continue in agricultural areas affected by floodwaters. Flood conditions in Dera Ghazi Khan and adjoining areas are currently under control.
The National Highway Authority (NHA) briefed participants on landslides that had blocked roads, stating that traffic had been restored at 106 locations through timely intervention.
Officials from the Ministry of Information Technology informed the meeting that the National Emergency and Telecommunication Centre is fully operational, enabling Rescue 1122 to respond immediately to emergency calls from any mobile phone.
The meeting also learned that 700 locations across Pakistan have been identified for storing rainwater during the monsoon season to support agricultural needs during the dry months.
Concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the NDMA, PDMAs, provincial governments and all relevant institutions for their preparedness, early warning systems, and ongoing rescue and relief efforts.
The meeting was attended by senior federal ministers, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah, NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik, and other senior officials.
