ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday instructed federal and provincial authorities to stay vigilant as the country’s meteorological department predicted more monsoon rains and floods in different parts of Pakistan.
According to data compiled by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 310 people were killed in different parts of the country due to monsoon rains that began in mid-June while 295 were injured.
“Safety of life and property of people living in low-lying areas must be ensured,” the prime minister was quoted in a statement issued by his office.
He also directed NDMA officials to remain alert and provide full support to provincial administrations and institutions.
“Elected representatives must also effectively monitor the rescue and relief operations of all relevant agencies,” he continued.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, about 30 houses were partially damaged in Pakistan’s northwest due to the ongoing rains in the last 48 hours while 15 were completely destroyed in floods.
The Met Office also warned of bad weather in Balochistan province where a woman lost her life due to heavy flooding in Dera Bugti on Saturday.
Balochistan also suffered the highest death toll in recent rains, with PDMA officials in Quetta confirming the loss of 100 lives since the beginning of the monsoon season last month.
They also noted that over 6,000 houses were damaged in Pakistan’s southwest in the last few weeks while people had also lost their livestock in substantial numbers.
Sindh chief minister Murad Ali Shah visited different neighborhoods of Karachi on Sunday, directing the relevant staff of different civic institutions to continuously monitor chokepoints in areas under their jurisdiction and keep them clean to ensure smooth water drainage.
According to Imdad Hussain, director operation with the PDMA in Sindh, no causality was reported in the province during the last 24 hours, though he added that over 30 people were killed while 10 others were injured due to monsoon rains since their beginning last month.
Given the situation, Shah also requested people to confine themselves and their children at home during the downpour.
“This is the third spell of rain,” he noted. “It should not be considered a picnic and people should try to stay at home.”
Shah also directed the police and district administration to help the public in “every possible way.”
Karachi is expected to witness another spell of rain later in the day that may lead to urban flooding in the country’s largest port city.
