ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Major General Saeed Aleem told the federal cabinet in Islamabad on Friday that number of flood victims has risen to 1.1 million while death toll in floods has risen to 274 in Punjab.
The federal cabinet was told that 43,000 houses were damaged by the floods while 3,000 villages were affected.
It was informed that the Pakistan Army is utilizing its helicopters and boats in its relief operation and the Punjab government and the NDMA are taking part in relief activities.
The NDMA chairman said that water situation in Chenab River is similar to 1992 floods. He said that areas of Jhang, Chiniot, and Hafizabad districts were affected the most while 10 districts of the Punjab province in total were hit by the floods.
NDMA directed to take all possible measures to protect people’s lives, property
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed the NDMA to take all possible measures to protect lives and property of people from floods in Sindh province. He directed to chalk out an effective strategy to mitigate the damages of floods and torrential rains in the country.
The prime minister also directed the NDMA to expedite the work on assessment of floods damages and complete the report within weeks instead of months.
Sharif also directed the authorities to present national administrative strategy to tackle natural disasters in the next cabinet meeting.
