Day: September 17, 2022

Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal says the government is making all out efforts for the relief and rehabilitation of flood-affected people.

Speaking at a ceremony in Narowal on Saturday, he said for the first time in the history of the country we are facing natural catastrophe of such a huge magnitude.

The Minister said rains and flood have destroyed the crops at large scale, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan and almost one third of the country is affected by the flood.

He said federal government has taken swift measures to address shortage of vegetables, but some elements in Punjab are involved in hoarding to create artificial shortage.

The Minister lauded the role of philanthropists and people from all walks of life for helping flood-affected people.

He said Pakistan is directly affected by the adverse impacts of climate change.

Source: Radio Pakistan

The National Disaster Management Authority has released latest statistics regarding the loss of life and property in the flood-hit areas. 

According to the latest figures, 37 more people have died of floods across the country taking the total number of casualties to 154. The number of injured persons has soared to 12, 850 injured whereas a total of 1,921,622 houses have been damaged.  

The NDMA further says that 935,795 cattle swept away in flood waters across the country.  

Source: Radio Pakistan

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit China in the first week of November on the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jingping.  

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad today (Saturday), he said the invitation was extended by the Chinese President to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on the sidelines of SCO meeting. 

He said Russian President Vladimir Putin has also invited the Prime Minister to visit Moscow and this visit will also take place.

The Defence Minister said the Chinese President, during his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, recognized him as an efficient and pragmatic leader, and expressed the commitment to vigorously take forward the CPEC project. He said Xi Jinping described Pakistan as an all-weather strategic friend.   

Khawaja Asif said the Russian President, during his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, appreciated Pakistan’s position on Ukraine. He said Russia has shown willingness to export wheat and gas to Pakistan.

The Defence Minister said the SCO members have expressed readiness to support and cooperate with Pakistan faced with the unprecedented floods.  

Source: Radio Pakistan

Pakistan Air Force has provided 4848 tents, 377457 food packages, 3095.25 tons of ration, 231,693 litres of fresh water for the flood affectees.

Moreover, PAF has established 45 medical camps where 56559 patients have been treated so far.

20 tent cities accommodating 19807 people and 54 relief camps have also been established. 

PAF helicopter and transport fleet also carried out 255 sorties and evacuated 99 people from the flood-affected areas in last 24 hours. 

Meanwhile, the relief operation launched by Pakistan Army in flood affected areas of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur continues.

Pakistan Army has set up tent villages in Rajanpur as part of a relief programme to provide shelter for the flood affectees.

Meanwhile, medical units and relief teams already deputed in the areas are also reaching out the far-flung areas of Koh-e-Sulaiman to provide necessary medical care and ration packs at door steps to the affected people.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Minister for Energy Khurram Dastgir says power transmission system, badly damaged by floods has been fully restored in flood-affected areas across the country.

Talking to news persons in Gujranwala on Saturday, he said an important grid station of 500 KV in Dadu city was secured from flood water with the help of Army by raising an embankment on emergency basis.

Earlier, the Minister also visited Dadu grid station and a tent city for flood affected people which was established in the premises of grid station.

He assured flood-affectees that all basic amenities including food, medicines, drinking water will be provided in the tent city.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Three terrorists of the banned outfit were killed in an encounter with a special team of Counter Terrorism Department in Khyber district on Saturday.

The terrorists opened fire at CTD team as it came close to their hideout.

In retaliatory fire, three terrorists identified as Zakarullah alias Huzaifa, Mursalla Khan alias Qari and one unknown were killed.

The CTD team recovered three Kalashnikov, 12 magazines, 3 hand grenades and other weapons from their possession.

Source: Radio Pakistan