Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the nation could tackle any challenge if it puts up a united front, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

Chairing a meeting of federal cabinet in Islamabad on Tuesday, PM Shehbaz said as the nation marked the Defence Day today, the similar spirit of sacrifice and resilience was required to cope with the current grave challenges in the wake of floods.

He said country was facing a big challenge today in the shape of floods as they had wreaked unprecedented havoc across the length and breadth of the entire country. He lamented that more than 30 million people were affected by the recent floods. 

“Floods have destroyed hundreds of thousands of houses, killed about 1,300 people including hundreds of children. The calamity has damaged crops on a large scale, besides sweeping away the livestock,” the PM told the cabinet.  

He, however, expressed satisfaction that ‘we are once again writing a new chapter in our history to collectively address the current situation.’

Shehbaz said the Defense and Martyrs Day was being observed with simplicity due to the flood situation.

Paying tributes to the sacrifices of martyrs and Ghazis, the prime minister recalled that on this day our valiant soldiers foiled with their blood the sordid designs of a four times bigger enemy. He said the sacrifices of our soldiers would not go in vain and that the whole nation including the coming generations would always remember their sacrifices.

Earlier, the NDMA chairman gave a detailed briefing on floods to the cabinet members. The cabinet was also apprised of the flood assistance sent by the friendly countries. 

The federal ministers informed the cabinet about the losses caused by the recent floods and the condition of flood affectees in their respective constituencies. 

Sources said that Prime Minister Shehbaz told the cabinet members that he would himself oversee the relief efforts in the flood-hit areas. 

Briefing the cabinet, the NDMA chief said that 30.3 million were affected by the floods and loss worth billions of rupees was incurred. 

It was decided in the meeting that an emergency meeting of the National Flood Coordination Committee (NFCC) to be chaired by prime minister would be called today (Tuesday). The members of coalition parties would participate in the NFCC.  

Sources further informed that the inquiry report of Hajj 2022 was also presented before the cabinet. 

The cabinet was briefed about the overbooking in the government Hajj quota and the banking affairs. 

Reporter Awais Kiyani