More than 33 million affected as torrential rains cripple life

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala for sending a message in support of the people affected by rain-induced floods in Pakistan.

Taking to Twitter, PM Shehbaz wrote: "Grateful for Czech Republic PM Petr Fiala's message of support for the flood-stricken people of Pakistan."

The premier said that Pakistan appreciates the solidarity in this difficult time and looks forward to receiving support from the European Union.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked his Emirati counterpart Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for announcing AED50 million for the flood victims in Pakistan.

Taking to Twitter, the premier wrote: "Highly grateful to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for the announcement of AED50 million for flood affectees in Pakistan. The UAE continues to lead the humanitarian effort, a sign of the brotherly bond between our two nations."

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday announced Rs100 million for the rehabilitation of Bobar village in Gilgit’s Ghizar district, which has been badly affected by flash floods.

The prime minister, during his visit to the village, was told in a briefing that the floods had killed 17 people and damaged 249 houses in the village. Moreover, 794 animals and several orchards were also washed away during the calamity.

The prime minister ordered the authorities concerned to pay compensation of Rs1 million each for the families who had lost their dear ones in the catastrophe. Moreover, he also ordered the construction of a five-kilometre metal road to facilitate the villagers. PM Shehbaz instructed relevant authorities to give compensation to those 17 families whose loved ones departed within the next 24 hours.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa acknowledged the UK’s support during these tough times in Pakistan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

During a meeting held with British High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner, matters of mutual interest and regional security situations including bilateral cooperation in various fields were discussed.

The military's media wing, in a brief statement, said that the visiting dignitary expressed his grief over the devastation caused by unprecedented floods in Pakistan and offered sincere condolence to the families of the victims. 

According to ISPR, he also offered UK’s support to the people of Pakistan in this hour of need. 

"The dignitary appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for regional stability and also pledged to play his role enhancing cooperation with Pakistan at all levels," the statement read.

COAS thanked the UK’s support and reiterated that assistance from our global partners shall be vital in the relief and rehabilitation of the flood affected.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has requested the people to donate to UK based charity organisation Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) to help provide relief to the flood victims in Pakistan.

He expressed solidarity with the affectees and their families.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met a Turkish delegation visiting Pakistan to express solidarity with the flood victims. He thanked the delegation for the country's timely response and provision of humanitarian aid for the affectees.

"Pakistan values Turkiye's timely assistance for the flood affectees. This effort is a reflection of the close ties between the two countries," the premier said. He also lauded Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for showing concern and calling him on the day the floods hit Pakistan.

Sindh minister for Education and Culture Syed Sardar Ali Shah has expressed concern that over 2 million children could drop out of schools as floods caused massive infrastructural destruction in the affected areas, The News reported

In a meeting with the deputy commissioner, senior superintendent of police and representatives of United Nations International Children's Fund and various welfare organisations, Sardar said that an education emergency has been imposed in the province to deal with the losses.

He said that besides the ongoing relief activities, there was a need to save education and make sure that the expected dropouts did not happen.

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The silted Guddu-Kotri stretch in the Indus River, the failure to arrange Rs332.246 billion funding required to implement the National Flood Protection Plan (NFPP)-IV, and squeezed role of the Federal Flood Commission (FFC,) apart from unprecedented rains in Sindh and Balochistan, and hill torrents in DG Khan and Rajanpur, played a catastrophic role in increasing the devastation caused by floods manifold.

A background discussion with top officials of the Ministry of Water Resources, FFC, and Indus River System Authority (IRSA) brought to the fore the factors leading to the disastrous deluge, far worse than that of 2010.

According to these officials, the Guddu-Kotri reach has been heavily silted, dangerously reducing the depth of the river bed, which caused the Indus to spill from its banks.

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Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has said the federal government, NDMA, armed forces and civil administration are carrying out rescue and relief operations in flood-affected areas.

Addressing a news conference on Thursday, she said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced Rs15 billion for Sindh, Rs10 billion for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Rs10 billion rupees for Balochistan. 

She said people who have died will receive one million rupees. Aurangzeb said it is an evolving situation and NDMA and PDMAs are holding surveys to estimate damages.

The minister said 1200 people including four hundred children have died four thousand people have been injured crops and cattle have been destroyed.

She said six hundred thousand families have received Rs25,000 each in flood-hit areas.

She said a National Flood Response and Coordination Center has been constituted for provincial coordination.