Islamabad / Lahore:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday ordered the competent authorities on Tuesday to prepare a complete evaluation of human and financial losses, including damage to crops, livestock and communication infrastructure in the areas affected by rain and floods.
He stressed that once the evaluation completed, the government could formulate a complete rehabilitation strategy, effectively restore the affected areas and support the affected population.
The Prime Minister published the directives during the presidency of an examination meeting on loss of lives and property caused by recent rains and floods, in particular the damages estimated at crops and livestock, said PM Office Media Wing in a press release.
Weeks of heavy monsoon rains have left large parts of Punjab and Sindh underwater, moving tens of thousands and devastating agricultural land, villages and infrastructure. Officials warn that the recovery will take time because flood waters have not yet declined in many districts.
In southern Punjab, entire communities of Alipur, Khan Garh Doema, Seetpur, Latimarri, Azmatpur and neighboring villages have been overwhelmed. In Minchinabad de Bahawalnagar, more than 15 villages remain cut, with water levels still between five and seven feet deep. Hundreds of culture acres have been destroyed. Rescue efforts are still complicated by loss of road access, leaving many blocked families.
The damage was widespread. In Uch Sharif and Ahmadpur East, the houses collapsed and thousands of acres of agricultural land are underwater. The Sutlej river waters have ravaged 67 villages in Minchinabad, affecting more than 56,000 people.
In Chishtian, 47 villages were flooded, while Basti Suman de Shujaabad, hundreds of houses have been reduced to rubble, leaving thousands of homeless people. The Jalalpur Pirwala section of the M-5 motorway was forced to close after being exceeded by flood waters.
The NDMA confirmed on Tuesday six deaths in Punjab in the last 24 hours – two each in Muzaffargarh, Chiniot and Multan – all caused by the floods of the river.
In the Sindh, flood waters have increased downstream. At the GUDDU dam, entries were recorded at nearly 595,000 brackets, while Sukkur dam experienced more than 508,000 brackets. The Ghotki district reported cotton and sugar cane fields underwater after flooding water hit the grout. In Nowshero Feroze, the collapse of the embankment of Mahijo Bhan near Kamal Dero drowned more than 50 villages. In Naudero de Larkana, high -level floods have exerted strong pressure on protective dikes, with houses in the village of Mitho Khoro flooded.
