Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the federal cabinet will donate one month’s salary to support flood-affected communities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).
He made the announcement while chairing a meeting in Islamabad on Monday to review ongoing relief efforts in flood-hit areas of K-P, Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The prime minister pledged full federal support for affected communities. “Helping our distressed Pakistani brothers and sisters is our national responsibility,” he said.
Under the prime minister’s relief package, financial assistance will be provided to the families of the deceased and those affected by the floods. Kashmir and G-B Affairs Minister Engineer Amir Muqam has been tasked with overseeing relief and rehabilitation operations.
Sharif directed federal ministers to personally monitor the restoration of electricity, water supply, roads, and other essential services. “All relevant ministers must remain in affected areas until the last person receives assistance while basic infrastructure is restored,” he said.
He instructed the National Highway Authority, Ministry of Communications, and Frontier Works Organization to prioritise repair and maintenance of highways and bridges in the flood-hit areas.
The premier also directed the health ministry to send medical teams and establish camps, while the Benazir Income Support Programme will be mobilised to assist flood victims.
A briefing during the meeting noted that the federal and provincial governments, the Pakistan Army, and other institutions have established 456 relief camps and conducted 400 rescue operations so far. Relief trucks carrying essential goods are being dispatched, with priority for the hardest-hit areas.
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According to preliminary estimates, damages to public and private property have exceeded Rs126 million. The National Disaster Management Authority presented a report on ration, tents, medicines, and other essential supplies. The prime minister directed that the quantity of relief items be increased.
PM Shehbaz was briefed that the monsoon season is expected to continue until the second week of September, with six major spells already passed and two more expected, potentially affecting flood-hit areas until the last week of September.
Ministers briefed on local situations included Muqam on Swat, Awais Leghari on K-P, Mubarak Zeb on Bajaur, and officials from the National Highway Authority and Ministry of Communications on Malakand and Gilgit.
