Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for formulating a coordinated plan, in consultation with the provinces, to prevent losses in view of growing intensity of cloud bursts in future.
He was speaking at a briefing given to him at the National Emergencies Operation Centre of the NDMA in Islamabad today regarding the existing monsoon rains and flood situation in the country.
Shehbaz Sharif said the Ministries of the Climate Change and the Planning are required to engage in close coordination with the National Disaster Management Authority and provinces to evolve an effective strategy to mitigate losses as a result of rains. He said all possible equipment and resources will be provided to the NDMA to achieve this objective
The Prime Minister also commended the NDMA and provincial governments for effectively undertaking relief and rescue operation in the country. He expressed the confidence that provinces will also upgrade their rescue and relief agencies by providing them with latest equipment.
Earlier, briefing the Prime Minister, Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik said intensity of monsoon rains is sixty to seventy percent higher this year as compared to the last year. He said traditionally there are around nine monsoon spells but there will be two to three more spells this year.
The Chairman, however, ruled out any threat of large scale flooding as all the rivers in the country are flowing in normal conditions.
Regarding the losses, he said so far 178 people have died and around five hundred others injured in the rain related incident.
