PM Orders Comprehensive Flood Damage Assessment
LAHORE: A committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review flood damages said on Tuesday that initial estimates will be finalized within ten days based on transparent field reports.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who chaired the meeting, emphasized close coordination with provincial authorities. He said that once waters recede, the government will prepare a post-disaster needs assessment with support from international organizations, similar to the 2022 exercise.
The prime minister separately directed authorities to ensure that damages to agriculture and livestock are fully incorporated in the reports. He suggested using satellite-based assessments through SUPARCO and stressed immediate steps to protect crops from disease.
Officials informed the PM that the damage assessment of major crops, including sugarcane, cotton, and rice, will be completed in two weeks. He also called for measures to cultivate suitable crops in flood-affected areas.
Sutlej River Threatens Jalalpur Pirwala
The Sutlej River continued to pose a risk to urban settlements in Jalalpur Pirwala, where the local administration reinforced embankments along Gilani Road and Shujaabad Road to prevent breaches. A section of the Multan–Uch Sharif Motorway (M-5) was submerged in multiple places, with drainage efforts underway.
Deputy Commissioner Waseem Hamid Sindhu visited affected sites with a technical team and ordered the construction of temporary dykes to contain rising waters.
Rescue 1122 teams reported that so far, 28,732 people and nearly 3,000 animals have been evacuated in Multan and Muzaffargarh districts. In the last 24 hours, 1,144 people and 607 animals were rescued in Jalalpur Pirwala alone.
Flood Situation in Sindh
In Sindh’s Sehwan area, two more villages were submerged after 400,000 cusecs of water flowed towards the Kotri Barrage, cutting off road access. Rescue 1122 teams evacuated 35 people when a boat malfunctioned during the relocation of families and livestock.
Current water flow updates:
-
Guddu Barrage: Inflow 609,137 cusecs, outflow 580,927 cusecs (decreasing trend).
-
Sukkur Barrage: Inflow 571,800 cusecs, outflow 518,120 cusecs (slight increase).
-
Kotri Barrage: Inflow 300,853 cusecs, outflow 289,098 cusecs (rising trend).
-
Panjnad Headworks: Inflow 234,755 cusecs, outflow 229,905 cusecs.
Authorities continue to monitor the flood situation closely while relief and rescue operations remain underway in the affected regions.
