Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to urgently complete damage assessments in flood-affected regions across Pakistan. He issued these orders shortly after returning from the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where he raised the issue of climate-related disasters affecting developing countries like Pakistan.
Chairing a high-level meeting, the prime minister emphasized the need for rapid relief and recovery efforts. He said the government will not rest until all flood-hit citizens are fully rehabilitated. He stressed that his address at the UNGA reflected the voices of Pakistanis suffering due to extreme weather events and called climate change a continuous threat to vulnerable nations.
Read more: PM Shehbaz halts august bills for flood victims
During the meeting, PM Shehbaz instructed Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal to closely monitor all relief and recovery operations. He also asked NDMA to provide full support to provincial disaster management authorities (PDMAs) to speed up field-level coordination and action. The prime minister emphasized the importance of estimating damage to crops and infrastructure without delay, so a targeted relief and reconstruction plan can be designed quickly.
In addition, the prime minister ordered urgent repairs to the flood-damaged section of the M-5 Motorway near Jalalpur Pirwala. He asked the communications secretary and chairman of the National Highway Authority to conduct a full assessment of the area. PM Shehbaz also directed health officials to prepare for potential outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
Read more: Shehbaz declares climate, agriculture emergency amid floods
Lastly, he stressed the need to plant suitable crops in the flood-hit agricultural zones to support long-term recovery. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to rebuilding better and more resilient communities in the face of climate change.