The situation across the flood-ravaged Pakistan continues to worsen as the nation-wide death toll topped 1,136 on Monday, with a lingered threat of more flooding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) report, 1,634 individuals were injured in various rain and flood-related incidents and over 735,375 livestock animals were lost.
Additionally, over 3,451 kilometres of roads, 149 bridges, 170 shops, and 949,858 houses were damaged across the country.
The water level in Kabul River still ranges from medium to very high flow. Data available from the flood cell showed that a decrease of 41,000 cusecs was recorded in the river’s water level and 296,731 cusecs were passing through the river at Nowshera — which was still “very high” flow.
Moreover, the water level in Indus River is also rising near Guddu Barrage, Kandhkot, reaching approximately 500,944 cusecs. The water level in Manchhar Lake has reached 120.75 feet, which if reaches 123 feet, will be ‘very dangerous’ according to Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.
Meanwhile, the Flood Forecasting Division revealed that a fresh deluge from the northern parts of the country entered South Punjab and Sindh, inundating parts of Nowshera and Charsadda.
According to FFD, a very high flood of 307,000 cusecs hit Nowshera Sunday morning and by noon the water submerged the GT Road as another massive flood torrent of 130,000 cusecs from Swat entered the River Kabul near Charsadda, at the confluence of River Swat and River Kabul.
The floods also left a devastating impact on the crops, as 375,171 acres of crops have been destroyed in Rajanpur, DG Khan on Monday.
Secretary Agriculture South Punjab Saqib Ali Ateel revealed that different kinds of crops on 375,171 acres witnessed complete destruction due to floods in Districts Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.
Cotton field at 176,012 acres damaged completely in both the districts. Similarly, the floods damaged 53,532 acres of paddy, 21,784 acres of “Til & Mong”, 28,272 acres of sugarcane, and 77,556 acres of fodder.
Furthermore, the floods also left a catastrophic effect on a dog shelter house in Sardaryab area of Charsadda district.
“Lucky Animal Protection Shelter that was home to more than 250 stray and abandoned dogs has been badly hit by floods in Charsadda and we have to evacuate the animals in emergency,” reads an SOS call made by Zeba Masood, founder of the sanctuary.
“We managed to evacuate around 150 dogs on the night when flood water reached Charsadda, and around 100 are left there which took shelter at the kennel top and other places,” Zeba revealed.
While the floods continue to wreak havoc across the country, much needed rescue and relief operations are also expediting from within and outside of the country.
In a major development today, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a cash assistance of Rs 25,000 through the Benazir Income Support Programme by September 3 for all flood victims in the country, including Khyber Pakthunkhwa.
He further revealed that the federal government had allocated Rs 28 billion for the purpose, while talking to the flood victims at the relief camps.
Meanwhile, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and the Bank of China (BOC) joined hands with Pakistan to collect donations for ‘Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund, 2022’
Earlier, the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong in a tweet stated that China will provide a batch of emergency humanitarian supplies, including 25,000 tents and other supplies in dire need, as well as USD 300,000 emergency cash assistance to the flood-affected Pakistan People in times of need.
As per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, the Fund is administered by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) while the Accountant General Pakistan will maintain accounts of the Fund.
The State Bank of Pakistan has opened the “Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund Account, 2022” while all the commercial and microfinance banks have also opened the account of the Fund and are receiving donations/contributions in cash, through cheques, pay order and demand drafts, at all their branches across the country.
Meanwhile, the relief goods pledged by the friendly countries to Pakistan continued to arrive in the country to help it tackle the challenge of the devastating flood it is facing at the moment and support Pakistan Relief and Rehabilitation efforts.
According to an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement, four military aircraft from Turkey have arrived at Karachi carrying relief goods, two military aircraft from UAE have arrived at Noor Khan Air Base Rawalpindi, one military aircraft from UAE will arrive at Noor Khan Air Base this evening, while two aircraft from China will reach Pakistan in next 48 hours. Adding to that, Bahrain has also pledged one aircraft to help assist flood victims. The ISPR further revealed that UAE has also pledged 20 aircraft sorties flood relief equipment to assist the flood victims across Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) has generated Rs 20 million donation for financial support of flood affected peoples.
The FCCI started a collection campaign for the PM flood relief fund. The chamber had also a special fund for the support of calamity hit people and would try to get approval for Rs 2.5 million from this fund.
Separately, the Police have rescued more than 14,000 people from flood-hit-areas during the ongoing relief operation by the South Punjab police in which 1731 police officials were participating in Dera Ghazi Khan Region.
As per directives of the Additional Inspector General of Police (IGP) South Punjab Dr Ehsan Sadiq, the police officials were taking part in relief operations at flood hit areas. The police officials have rescued more than 14,000 people and 5602 cattle from the affected areas.
On the other hand, 27 relief camps were set up by the police in flood hit areas while 33 police boats were being used for rescue operations, police sources said.
Meanwhile, the world is vigilantly responding to Pakistan’s appeal for international help after it declared an emergency.
Pope Francis on Sunday said he wanted to express his “closeness to the populations of Pakistan struck by flooding of disastrous proportions’’.
Speaking during a pilgrimage to the Italian town of L’Aquila, which was hit by a deadly earthquake in 2009, Francis said he was praying “for the many victims, for the injured and the evacuated, and so that international solidarity will be prompt and generous”.
Later in the day, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he was saddened to see the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured and all those affected by this natural calamity,” he said, hoping for an early restoration of normalcy.
The leaders of Pakistan’s leading political parties also gear up in these testing times to provide relief to the flood-stricken nation.
Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had called an “emergency meeting” of the government’s allies to deliberate on the current situation.
Whereas, PTI Chairman Imran Khan has announced international telethon to raise funds for flood affectees.
In a video message regarding the telethon, Imran called on the people to participate and contribute as much as they could.
