ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif called Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik and instructed him to implement all necessary relief measures as heavy rains battered the country.
PM Shehbaz urged the Authority to evaluate the damages to life and property caused by the rains and to enhance coordination with provincial disaster management departments, as well as the disaster management authorities of AJK and Gilgit Baltistan.
He told the NDMA to make sure that highways and roads damaged by the rains or landslides are fixed quickly.
The Prime Minister also said the need to provide all necessary medical services in areas hit by the rain, while ensuring that relief items, like medicines and other essential supplies, are available.
He felt very sad about the deaths caused by the heavy monsoon rains and the floods that came after. He prayed to Allah for peace for those who have died and sent his condolences to their families.
The prime minister also instructed that all possible medical treatment be provided to those injured in the rain-related incidents.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) report that at least six people, including one child and five women lost their lives and six others were hurt due to heavy rains in Punjab over the past 24 hours.
The heavy rainfall has also resulted in significant property damage, with 61 houses affected and 39 animals killed.
The PDMA report also revealed that the total number of deaths due to rainfall in July has increased to 39, with 113 people injured.
Following the instructions of the Punjab Chief Minister, financial assistance will be given to the families of the deceased.
The PDMA has warned of a risk of flooding in the Jhelum River at Mangla and the Chenab River at Marala, Khanki, and Qadirabad. There is also a possibility of medium to low-level flooding in the Indus River at Tarbela and in the hill torrents.
