QUETTA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited on Saturday the monsoon rain-ravaged southwestern Balochistan province, while another province, northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, issued a high alert for floods as downpours continue to lash Pakistan.
According to National Disaster Management Authority data, 419 people have been killed by floods and rain-related incidents across the country and 500 injured since the beginning of the monsoon season in mid-June.
At least 127 casualties have been reported in the worst-hit impoverished Balochistan province.
On Saturday, the prime minister visited the flood-hit Jhal Magsi district.
“In order to prevent the imminent threat of epidemic diseases in district Jhal Magsi, the government will establish free medical camps to provide timely health facilities to flood victims and we will also establish medical camps for people’s livestock,” Sharif said, while addressing residents of Goth Ali Mardan Shambani area in the district.
“Unfortunately, the flood caused major damages not only in Balochistan but in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces and the government will provide all assistance to the people displaced due to flood.”
The prime minister was briefed by Balochistan’s chief secretary about damages caused by the flood and response in the area. Sharif has announced relief aid of Rs1 million ($4,900) for relatives of those killed by the floods and Rs500,000 ($2,400) for those who lost their homes.
The PM also announced the formation of federal committees to assess flood damages across the country.
Also on Saturday, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa issued a flood warning for the next days.
“Water flows in River Kabul at Nowshera and its tributaries/ nullahs will reach HIGH TO VERY HIGH FLOOD LEVELS during the next 48 hours,” the agency said in a notification.
It advised authorities to evacuate people from low-lying areas and flood-prone areas and to ensure the availability of medicines and food in shelter camps.
