The Punjab government on Wednesday announced it will commence a comprehensive damage assessment of 28 flood-hit districts of the province, including losses of human lives and livestock, and destruction of houses and crops.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed all provinces to initiate damage assessment surveys to facilitate the federal government in devising a rehabilitation plan.
In a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, deputy commissioners of all flood-hit districts were directed to supervise the survey process to ensure transparency and accuracy.
The meeting also reviewed the ongoing flood relief and rehabilitation efforts in Punjab, assessing local administrations’ readiness to effectively distribute aid, restore damaged infrastructure and deploy health services.
The chief secretary, read a statement, directed the provision of additional tents and food supplies to flood-hit communities in Uch Sharif. He instructed the Bahawalpur deputy commissioner (DC) to remain in the field and personally oversee relief operations in the district. He also stressed on expediting the drainage of stagnant floodwater, preventing disease outbreaks, improving sanitation and restoring road networks to the affected areas.
Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed briefed the meeting on the prevailing situation, noting over 4,500 villages were affected by the floods. He said more than 2,000 teams would be mobilized for the assessment, adding displaced in Narowal, Sialkot, Chiniot, Jhang, Okara, Sahiwal and Sargodha districts had started returning to their homes.
He said 118 people had died in the province due to flood-related incidents, adding 4.7 million people were impacted across the province.
While the floods have started receding in most of the province, authorities have warned that a fresh surge is expected in Sutlej, further impacting Jalalpur Pirwala, already among the worst-hit districts of the province.