RAWALPINDI/QUETTA: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Saturday visited flood-affected areas of Balochistan where he inquired about the well-being of people affected due to devastating floods caused by heavy rains, said Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement.
According to the military’s media wing, the army chief visited flood relief and medical camps established at Goth Sadoori, Lakhra and Lasbela. The army chief also met troops busy in relief operations and lauded their efforts.
“Safety and well-being of our citizens come first and we won’t rest until each flood affectee is not only reached but rehabilitated,” said COAS. “People of Pakistan are our priority & we won’t spare any effort to assist them in this difficult time, “the ISPR quoted COAS as saying.
The COAS also directed army officials to utilise all available resources to assist the civil administration in rescue, relief and rehabilitation of people and infrastructure in the flood-affected areas. “We must reach out to our brothers and sisters in need without waiting for orders and help them overcome this natural calamity,” Army chief Gen. Bajwa directed.
Pakistan Army has established flood relief camps at various locations in Karachi to support victims trapped following heavy floods and torrential rainfall.
Army establishes Flood Relief Camps
The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the Army Flood Relief Camps were established in various areas. The Army Collection Camps set up in Punjab included 10 points by Lahore Division namely: Expo Centre, Saddr Bazaar, Walton Road, Fortress Stadium, DHA-2, Badshahi Mosque, Sheikhupura, Chunian, and Kasur.
In Multan Division some 11 collection points were established including five in Multan, three in Sahiwal, two in Khanewal, and two in Okara.
Some 17 points were established in Gujranwala Division including one each in Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, Shakargarh and six in Sialkot whereas one collection point each in Sambrail, Kharian, Gujrat, Sarai Alamgir, Pasroor, Ogoki, Gujranwala and Wazirabad.
However, seven collection points were set up in Bahawalpur Division including three in Bahawalpur, one each in Dera Nawab Sahib, Bahawalnagar, Hasilpur and Lodhran.
The Punjab Rangers also established collection camps including one each in Lahore, Sialkot, Mandi bahuddin, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur.
In Faisalabad Division there were two collection points set up in Faisalabad and one each in Chiniot, Toba Tek Singh and Jhang. In Sargohda Division, two points were set up in Sargohda and one each in Khushab, Bhakar and Mianwali. In Jhelum, two camps were set up in Jhelum and one in Chakwal.
The Army formations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) also established collection camps. In Hazra Division, one camp each was established in Abottabad and Old station Headquarters.
In Mansehra, collection camp was established at Thakra stadium whereas in Haripur, collection camp was established in Government College Haripu.
In Balochistan, 41 Flood Relief camps were established by the Army Formations including eight camps 33 Division, eight camps by 41 Division, three camps in 44 Division, 19 camps by Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan North and three camps by FC Balochistan South.
The camps established by 33 Division were in Kalat, Khuzdar City, Wadh, Surab, Khuzdar Cantt, Sibi, Dera Allah Yar / Jaffarabad and Kashmore Cantt.
The camps established by 41 Division were in Quetta Cantt, EME Center, Quetta, Chaman, Qila Abdullah, Gulistan, Nushki, Chagai and Dalbandin.
The relief camps of 44 Division were set up in Gawadar City, Ormara and Akra.
The camps by FC Balochistan(North) included three points in Quetta (Nawa Killi, Brewery and Dasht), Pishin, Mach, Mastung, Ziarat, Harnai, Sibi, Duki, Lli, Kohlu, two points in Barkhan (Barkhan City and Rakhni), Sui, Sohbatpur, three points in Zhob (Zhob City, Mani Khawa and Danasar).
The camps set up by FC Balochistan (South) were in Turbat, Panjgur, and Kharan.
Moreover, 58 Flood Relief Items collection points were established in Rawalpindi Corps Area of Responsibility.
Some 20 points were set up by 111 Brigade in Rawalpindi and Islamabad including Ammar Chowk, Giga Mall, F-6, F-8, F-9, Nawaz Sharif Park, Murre Road, Wah Barrier 1, Horse Chowk, Taxila, Rawat, Kalar Road, Mandra, bus stop, Kahuta, Officers Club, Race Course Park Rawalpindi, CSD Westridge, Chuhr Chowk JCP Area, Harley Street Bakery Chowk, Saddar Area, Rumi Lane Monument, Morgah Joint Check Post Area, Ayub Park GT Road Side, Chaklala Scheme 3, and Raja Akram Road.
In Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), 13 collection points were established in District Mirpur, Mirpur Stadium, District Bimber, 4 AK Brigade- APS Bimber, District Kotli, Landing ground Kotli, Thailer Kotli, Landing Ground Khuirtta, APS Hot spring, Tehsil Barnalla, Barnalla, Thub, Kot Jamil, Moil/Khairwal, Mattewala, Surakhpur, Tehsil Barnalla LoC Tank/Domila Chowk Jalalpur Jattan Garrison, Domail Road, CMH Muzafarabbad, Garhi Dupatta, Sawan, Chakothi, CMH Rawalakot, APS Rawalakot, Damni, Hajira, FG School Shaukat lines, Nausadda Br, Jura Helipad, APS Authmuqam, APS Bagh, Gyari Chowk Bagh, Sharda BHQ, APS Kel, Lemnian, Express Way Macdonald Chowk Murre, Kuldana Chowk, Ghika Gali Chowk, Pak Park.
In Gilgit, CMH nursery near heli chowk, in Skardu, Lib Chowk, and in Chilas, DC Chowk Army Collection Camps were set up where public could give their donations of non-food and food items.
Meanwhile, Army Flood Relief helpline has been established and Army help desks in various formations can be reached on Universal Access Number ( UAN ): 1135. For Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Army Flood Relief help desks can be reached on UAN 1125.
Meanwhile, Commander Peshawar Corps, Lieutenant General Hassan Azhar Hayat visited flood affected areas in Nowshera. The Commander directed to undertake all measures in rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts on emergency basis in coordination with Civil administration. He also directed that all resources be utilised to help affected population and restore critical communication infrastructure.
No separate account of Pakistan Army for donations
The Inter Services Public Relations on Saturday announced that there was no separate account of Pakistan Army for flood relief donations as there was only one account for flood relief donations, already announced by the federal government.
The Armed Forces media wing in a statement issued here said that there were certain fake accounts being attributed to Army for flood relief donations. “All such accounts are fake and public is requested to be aware of such fake appeals,” it underlined.
