The Punjab government has decided to form flood relief committees at the district and tehsil levels to oversee aid and rehabilitation efforts in areas devastated by recent floods. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, while chairing a meeting, stated that a survey form, a mobile application, and a central monitoring dashboard would be used to ensure effective distribution of aid and oversight. She directed officials to initiate comprehensive rehabilitation efforts for affected families, ensure the immediate restoration of roads and bridges, and devise a simple, effective procedure for providing assistance.
The Chief Minister noted that the floods had impacted 3,775 villages across 64 tehsils in 27 districts, causing damage to more than 63,000 concrete houses and over 309,000 mud houses. Survey teams, comprising officials from the Urban Unit, Revenue Department, Agriculture Department, and the Pakistan Army, will collect data to ensure accurate assessments. CM Maryam emphasized that no victim should be left without support and that every individual would be fully compensated for their losses.
New Title: Worsening Flooding in Southern Punjab and Rescue Operations
A massive breach of the Sutlej River at Noraja Bhutta has exacerbated the crisis in south Punjab, inundating 150 more villages across Multan, Lodhran, and Bahawalpur districts. Thousands of people have been displaced as floodwaters have encroached on a 20-kilometer stretch near the Multan-Sukkur M-5 Motorway. Jalalpur Pirwala remains submerged, with authorities reviewing a plan to breach the motorway to redirect the floodwaters. Multan Division Commissioner Amir Karim Khan visited Jalalpur Pirwala to supervise rescue and relief operations and inspected the damaged motorway section. According to Motorway Police spokesperson Imran Shah, the M-5 is closed due to flooding, and alternate routes have been provided for travelers.
Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Irfan Ali Kathia reported that the death toll in Punjab has reached 123. He noted that floodwaters were receding in most areas, with boat operations discontinued as water levels dropped. A report from the South Punjab Secretariat confirmed large-scale human and material losses, including 45 deaths. Around 1.17 million people were affected, and 1,112 villages were inundated. Relief efforts include the establishment of 1,145 camps that provide food, medicine, and other essentials. More than 1.5 million people and 1.47 million livestock have been evacuated.
New Title: Call for Relief Through the Benazir Income Support Program
PPP Acting President Yusuf Raza Gilani visited Jalalpur Pirwala and reviewed the flood situation. Speaking to the media, he said that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has demanded that flood victims be assisted through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). He had a meeting with Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah to discuss political matters and the flood-affected areas. Mr. Gilani urged the government to reconsider its decision to provide assistance to flood victims through other programs and stressed that the families of flood victims should be supported via the BISP.
