Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has advised all the appropriate institutions to stay vigilant to handle any emergency situation that may arise due to the ongoing monsoon.

He made the remarks while chairing a review meeting on the ongoing monsoon rains in the country and the consequent flood scenario.

He asked for continuous engagement with the NDMA, PDMA and provincial administrations. NDMA shall inform all federal and provincial entities on the monsoon situation and expected rains timely. The Federal Minister for Planning will be Chairman of the Flood Committee which will meet daily to examine the situation and decide the course of action. The early warning system on glacial lake outburst floods and Glacial floods in the northern areas must remain fully operational.

PM Shehbaz Sharif said in his speech that Pakistan’s contribution to the emission of greenhouse gases is low but Pakistan is being badly affected by the harmful impacts of climate change. The administration is working fast on long, medium and short term actions in view of the harmful effects of climate change. NDMA shall ensure that with collaboration of all institutions, loss of life and property is prevented during the ongoing spell of monsoon rains.

Chief Secretaries of all four provinces including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir briefed the meeting about recent monsoon rains, damages caused and rescue and relief operations.

The conference was informed that NDMA is extending all available support and resources to the provincial governments and institutions in connection with the flood situation due to the monsoon in the northern portions of the nation and the present extreme heatwave in Sindh and Balochistan. A major period of monsoon rainfall is forecast in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and southern Sindh in the next two days. Also, a strong stretch of monsoon rainfall is also forecast across the country from the second week of September.

The Prime Minister has directed the Flood Committee to hold regular meetings where all concerned institutions are closely monitoring the present situation, working out a detailed plan of action for rescue and relief and rehabilitation measures and ensuring its implementation.

The gathering was also informed that till now, the current rainy spell has claimed 110 lives while 360 people have been hurt, 796 dwellings damaged and 376 cattle perished.

The meeting was told that the rate of melting of glaciers in the northern portions of Pakistan had risen because of the ongoing El-Niño phenomena at the global level, which posed a risk of glacial lake outburst floods and glacial floods in the month ahead. We’re working to identify possibly vulnerable sites and taking all precautions possible.”

Immediate measures have been made to mitigate the urban flooding situation in central Punjab including Lahore, it was told. In some regions, agricultural land is under water due to floodwaters in seasonal nullahs and drainage work is underway. The flood situation in Dera Ghazi Khan and nearby areas is under control at the moment.

The gathering was also updated by the NHA on the road closures due to landslides and their rehabilitation. The meeting was apprised that prompt steps have cleared traffic obstructions at 106 places.

The group was told that the Ministry of IT had activated the National Emergency Telecommunication Center. In any emergency circumstance, a call for aid from any mobile phone activates Rescue 1122 automatically and it reaches the spot for rescue and relief operations.

During the monsoon, 700 spots across the country have been found to store rainwater, so that this water may be used for agriculture during the dry season. Briefing The Prime Minister appreciated NDMA, PDMAs, provincial governments and all relevant organizations for their advance intelligence, preparations and rescue and relief operations during the recent monsoon.

The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Dr. Musadiq Malik, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Engineer Ameer Muqam, Ataullah Tarar, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Sardar Awais Khan Leghari, Mian Muhammad Moeen Wattoo, Advisor to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah, Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik and other relevant senior officials.