Prime Minister directed to take urgent measures for the restoration of communication networks and the power transmission system.

Beijing:Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) and the Ministry of Energy to take urgent measures for the restoration of communication networks and the power transmission system affected by floods, and to expedite the search for missing citizens.

Prime Minister, while in Beijing, briefly set aside his engagements to chair a review meeting on the situation in flood-affected areas. During the meeting, he instructed that the federal government, provincial governments, and all relevant institutions must continue to work together in full coordination for the rehabilitation of flood-hit regions.

The Prime Minister temporarily paused his engagements to personally oversee the preparedness and relief operations of NDMA and other rescue and relief agencies during the ongoing major spell of monsoon rains. The meeting was attended by the Chairman NDMA, Chief Secretaries of Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, along with representatives of relevant institutions, who briefed the Prime Minister on the current flood situation and the progress of relief operations across the country.

The Prime Minister directed the NHA and the Ministry of Energy to prioritize restoration of the flood-affected communication infrastructure and electricity transmission system. He further instructed federal and provincial governments and all concerned organizations to continue providing assistance to flood-affected families, ensure their relocation to safe places, and work jointly on restoring damaged infrastructure.

He specifically directed officials to focus on relief and rehabilitation efforts in Punjab and Sindh, where the flood situation was more critical. The Prime Minister instructed the Chairman NDMA to remain in close coordination with Provincial Disaster Management Authorities, extend full support to provincial governments, and ensure the prompt search of missing citizens.

During the briefing, the Prime Minister was informed that continuous monitoring was being carried out of rising water levels in the Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej rivers, and that dams and barrages were being regulated accordingly. Officials briefed him on the worsening flood situation in Punjab and Sindh due to rising river flows. He was informed that at locations such as Trimu, Balloki, Sidhnai, Q.S. Wala, and Suleimanki along the Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej rivers, NDMA was fully coordinating with provincial administrations and disaster management authorities to deal with the situation.

After the arrival of flood torrents from these rivers, severe flooding is expected at Panjnad, from where the flood wave is anticipated to reach Guddu Barrage by the afternoon of September 6. Strict monitoring of the potential flood situation is underway at Guddu in Sindh, where NDMA is working closely with the Sindh government to ensure appropriate arrangements.

Rescue 1122, Pakistan Army, Rangers, NGOs, and provincial disaster management authorities are actively participating in joint relief efforts in flood-hit areas. Convoys of relief goods are being dispatched continuously to affected regions. Restoration of power supply and the damaged electricity infrastructure is also progressing rapidly.

The meeting was attended in Beijing by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, and Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, while the NDMA Chairman and senior officials of relevant institutions joined from Pakistan via video link.