Pakistan's Prime Minister Directs Enhanced Flood Relief Operations

Islamabad: August 20, 2025,Ali Imran Chattha

High-Level Meeting Presided Over by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Recent Rains, Flood Damages, and Ongoing Relief Operations* Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed the provision of continuous, uninterrupted electricity for the next week to the flood-affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The Prime Minister issued these directives while presiding over a high-level meeting to review the damages caused by recent torrential rains and flash floods and the status of ongoing relief and rehabilitation activities across the country. *Key Directives from the Prime Minister:* * *"Necessary procedures for the distribution of financial aid to the victims in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should be completed immediately,"* – PM * *"The number of trucks carrying relief goods should be doubled immediately,"* – PM * The Prime Minister directed Federal Minister for Water Resources, *Mian Muhammad Moin Wattoo, to immediately visit Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Federal Minister for Public Affairs, **Rana Mubashir Iqbal*, to visit Swabi to personally oversee relief activities. * The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs & GB *Engr. Amir Muqam, Federal Minister for Communications **Abdul Aleem Khan, Federal Minister for Power **Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs **Sardar Muhammad Yousuf, and Special Assistant to the PM **Mobarik Zeb*, who are visiting affected areas to personally supervise assistance for the victims and the restoration of infrastructure. * The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the concerned Chief Ministers, Chief Secretaries, Federal Secretaries, the Pakistan Army, the National Highway Authority (NHA), the Frontier Works Organization (FWO), and personnel of rescue and relief organizations for taking immediate action on directives for aid and rehabilitation. * *"It is our national duty to provide solace to the victims in their pain, and we all stand with our Pakistani brothers and sisters in this hour of need,"* – PM *Briefing on Relief and Restoration Efforts:* * The Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa briefed the meeting that federal government institutions and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) are fully supporting the provincial government in relief operations. * *Federal Minister for Power, Sardar Awais Leghari, reported that **37 out of 49* power feeders affected by the floods have been restored, with work proceeding rapidly on the remainder. He confirmed that power to hospitals has been restored on a priority basis and all hospitals in the affected areas now have functional electricity. * *Federal Minister for Information, Ataullah Tarar, informed the meeting that to make relief activities more effective and restore communications, **190 out of 210* affected mobile phone towers have been restored. Furthermore, telecom companies are providing free call facilities on the helpline *911*. * *Federal Minister for Communications, Abdul Aleem Khan, stated that the **Skardu to Jaglot road has been restored*, alleviating shortages of food items and fuel in Skardu and allowing supplies to be delivered. * The meeting was briefed on the ongoing relief activities by Engr. Amir Muqam (in Dir), Sardar Awais Leghari (in Swat), Abdul Aleem Khan (in Skardu), SAPM Mobarik Zeb (in Bajaur), Sardar Muhammad Yousuf (in Buner), and the Chairman NHA (in Malakand). It was informed that, on the Prime Minister's directives, most of the debris had been cleared within *36 hours* of the rains and floods. All major highways and routes in the affected areas are now open, while the federal government and NHA are working swiftly to restore link roads and smaller highways. * The Ministry of Finance has allocated an *additional Rs. 4 billion* for rescue and relief activities, ensuring these operations continue without interruption. * The NDMA gave a comprehensive briefing, stating that the current spell of monsoon rains is now over southern and central parts of the country, for which advance warnings and advisories have already been issued. It was informed that approximately *25,000 people* have been rescued from the floods so far. Currently, *308 medical camps* are operational in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with a country-wide total of *411 camps* established to assist the victims. * Regarding the provision of relief goods, the meeting was informed that the federal government is dispatching tents, medicines, rations, generators, and other essential items for the affected people. *Attendance:* The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Dr. Musadik Masood Malik, Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Khan Cheema, Abdul Aleem Khan, Ataullah Tarar, Engr. Amir Muqam, Sardar Muhammad Yousuf, Mian Muhammad Moin Wattoo, Special Assistant to the PM Mobarik Zeb, Chairman NDMA Lt. Gen. Inam Haider Malik, the Prime Minister’s Chief Coordinator Mushahid Zeidi, and other senior officials.