Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed all provinces and relevant institutions to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the damages caused by this year’s monsoon rains and floods so the federal government can prepare an effective rehabilitation plan.
Chairing a meeting in Islamabad, he praised the “timely and effective actions” of all provincial chief ministers in response to the climate change-induced devastation. Emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts, he urged federal and interprovincial bodies to “collaborate closely to estimate the full extent of damages.”
Noting that all assessments must account for human and financial losses as well as the destruction of crops and livestock losses, he urged officials to utilize satellite data from SUPARCO. He also directed the launch of immediate measures to protect crops against post-flood diseases. He said targeted efforts are required to cultivate suitable crops in flood-affected areas, adding repair of damaged roads must take priority in infrastructure repair. He directed all ministers and agencies to remain engaged with affected communities throughout the recovery process.
Briefing the meeting on reconstruction and rehabilitation measures, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) chairman informed the premier damage assessments for sugarcane, cotton and rice crops are underway. He said authorities expected the initial assessments to be completed within 15 days as water levels recede.
The NDMA’s latest situation report states that between June 26 and Sept. 17, 998 people have died, including 504 from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and 296 from Punjab. Additionally, 80 people have died in Sindh; 30 in Balochistan; 41 in Gilgit-Baltistan; 38 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir; and nine in Islamabad.
Nationwide, 9,064 houses have been damaged and 6,509 livestock lost. Of these, 234 houses have been partially damaged in Punjab, while four have been fully destroyed. In KP, 2,517 houses are partially damaged while 700 are destroyed. Sindh has reported 57 partially damaged houses and 224 fully destroyed. Balochistan has reported 1,190 partially damaged houses and 396 destroyed.
In GB, 481 houses have been partially damaged and 779 destroyed; while AJK has reported 2,078 partially damaged houses and 339 destroyed. In Islamabad, 64 houses have been partially damaged and one fully destroyed.