ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is actively overseeing rescue and relief operations following devastating rains and flash floods triggered by cloudbursts in northern Pakistan, according to Radio Pakistan.
The Prime Minister is in regular communication with the Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to ensure timely delivery of relief supplies, facilitate the transportation of affected individuals to safety, and expedite search operations for missing persons, as stated by the Prime Minister’s Office.
In line with his directives, the Federal Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan conducted a comprehensive visit to the flood-affected areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, personally supervising the distribution of relief materials throughout the day.
PM Shehbaz emphasized the need to accelerate rescue operations across the affected districts, prioritizing the provision of tents, medical supplies, and immediate assistance to flood victims. He instructed the NDMA to issue advance weather warnings to residents in the impacted areas and to prepare for any potential emergencies.
The Prime Minister also called for enhanced coordination between the NDMA and provincial disaster management authorities, as well as those in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, to ensure comprehensive support.
He ordered urgent action to restore roads blocked by landslides and heavy rainfall and requested that assistance be provided to stranded travelers on closed highways as quickly as possible.
Expressing his sorrow over the destruction caused by the floods, PM Shehbaz extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families in a post on his X account. He affirmed the government’s commitment to mobilizing all available resources for effective rescue and relief efforts.
In his discussions with the NDMA Chairman, he reiterated the need to expedite operations in nine affected districts: Swat, Buner, Bajaur, Torghar, Mansehra, Shangla, and Battagram, with particular focus on Bajaur and Battagram. He assured that immediate relief is being provided to stranded residents, medical aid to the injured, and that heavy machinery is being deployed to clear roads and restore connectivity.
