LAHORE:
Punjab’s monsoon season has ended and river flows have returned to normal, Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Irfan Ali Kathia said on Friday, while outlining the province’s flood damage and relief operations.
At a press conference, Kathia confirmed all rivers are now at normal levels. The Chenab shows no peak from Marala to Panjnad and water has receded from Jassar to Sadhnai, though the Sutlej continues to carry a slightly higher flow.
He reported that 22 kilometres of the Multan-Sukkur Motorway (M-5) remain closed due to flooding, with 10-12 kilometres still underwater, but repair work is underway. The Jalalpur-Lodhran road also remains shut.
Breach points at Rawaj Bridge, Sadhnai and Multan are being filled as the Chenab’s level falls.
DG PDMA said 4,795 villages in 28 districts were affected, impacting 407,030 people.
More than 612,800 residents and two million animals were evacuated.
Across South Punjab, 331 relief camps are housing about 106,000 people, supported by 425 medical camps and mobile clinics.
The floods have so far caused 123 deaths and damaged 2.58 million acres of farmland, with Gujrat and Faisalabad suffering the worst crop losses.
Maize was heavily hit, rice lost 15 per cent of its yield, sugarcane 13 per cent and cotton 5 per cent. Reports indicate 824 animals remain missing, pending survey verification.
A damage assessment survey covering crops, livestock and human losses will begin on September 24 under the direction of the Chief Minister of Punjab.
In Jalalpur Pirwala, floodwaters have receded by two feet in Nooraja Bhutta, Chak 87-M, Basti Sawa, the motorway interchange, Basti Lang and Bahadurpur, but an “8 to 10-foot flood still exists, keeping the situation critical,” local officials said.
Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan visited Multan, meeting MNA and Kashmir Committee Chairman Rana Qasim Noon. “The flood has caused severe damage to farmers’ crops. Permanent and long-term planning is needed.”
He said, urging departments to “fulfil their responsibilities in time”. Both leaders expressed grief over the loss of lives and livelihoods and praised the National Highway Authority’s repair work.
Flood levels at Sindh’s barrages are improving, with Sukkur recording inflows of 399,000 cusecs, Guddu 426,000 and Kotri 315,000.
Sukkur and Guddu remain at medium flood level, while Kotri is at a low flood stage, according to the Sukkur Barrage control room.
Officials added that a low-level flood on the Sutlej continues to destroy homes. “Hundreds of houses have been flattened and thousands displaced.
