National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Irfan Ali Kathia said on Sunday that 850 people have been killed in Pakistan by incessant floods and rains.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad along with Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik, Kathia forecast more rains in the next 3 to 4 days. He however said that all rivers were being monitored round the clock. He said the last week saw a powerful spell of monsoon rains, triggering floods in entire Pakistan. He thanked the armed forces of Pakistan and the rescue teams taking part in the flood rescue and relief activities.
Malik said the devastation caused by climate change was now in front of everyone to see. Addressing the press conference Malik said that disasters were coming every year, but nobody was accepting the reality of climate change.
He said that now the government’s focus was on southern Punjab and efforts were being made to keep the river flow below one million cusecs. He said the government was breaching river embankments at certain points to minimize the devastation.
The federal minister said that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif was fully aware of the flood situation in the country and Field Marshal Asim Munir was also monitoring the situation. He said that provinces were forewarned six months ago about the devastation rains and floods are causing now. He said that aid was delivered to the flood-affected areas on time and the mortality rate remained low.