By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pledged federal aid on Friday to northern regions devastated by monsoon floods and landslides, vowing to overhaul the country’s faltering early warning systems as the death toll climbed past 295.
Sharif directed authorities to launch immediate assessments of the loss of life and property in flood-ravaged Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), as both regions reel from the destructive force of recent monsoon rains.
Sharif, chairing a high-level meeting, expressed profound sorrow over the devastation wrought by torrential downpours, underscoring his administration’s solidarity with the people in the region. “The federal government stands shoulder to shoulder with the administrations and citizens of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir in this hour of grief,” he declared. “I will soon visit Gilgit-Baltistan to express solidarity with the victims, and a comprehensive federal relief package will be announced to support recovery and rehabilitation efforts.”
Pakistan is grappling with one of its most severe monsoon seasons in recent years. Torrential rains have unleashed devastating landslides, stranding hundreds of tourists and prompting authorities to issue warnings of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) as water levels surge in glacier-fed catchments. The rugged terrain and remote locations of these areas further complicate relief efforts. The NDMA’s latest situation report, dated August 1, tallied 299 fatalities nationwide, reinforcing the monsoon’s staggering toll.
Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remain the epicenters of loss, but GB and AJK confront unique vulnerabilities that demand tailored responses. The NDMA documented 10 deaths in GB and two in AJK. Several tourists remain unaccounted for in these regions since the monsoon’s onset.
Sharif stressed the urgency of a coordinated and rapid response to curb further losses. He instructed federal departments to collaborate closely with regional authorities, prioritizing life-saving measures and ensuring timely aid reaches those in need.
He also ordered the emergency restoration of road and communication networks, which have been crippled by landslides and flooding, to expedite the delivery of relief supplies and personnel.
The NDMA Chairman Lt. Gen. Inam Haider Malik warned of persistent flood risks across Pakistan’s rivers and streams. He highlighted the potential for minor flooding at key points along the Indus River—Tarbela, Chashma, Taunsa, and Kalabagh—as well as moderate flood levels at Head Marala and Guddu on the Chenab River.
Malik cautioned that monsoon activity is likely to intensify toward the end of August, amplifying the threat of additional disasters. Responding to these projections, Sharif called for a sweeping upgrade of the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s early warning infrastructure. “We must make our early warning systems more proactive and effective,” he said, emphasizing the critical need to bolster the country’s capacity to predict and respond to natural disasters.
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