ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has convened an emergency meeting of political and military leaders at the PM’s House on Monday evening to discuss and evolve a strategy to tackle the devastation caused by rains and floods. The chiefs of armed forces are also attending this crucial meeting in Islamabad.
PM has also invited the chief ministers of four provinces and leaders of political parties in the ruling coalition to participate in this meeting.
The meeting will begin at 6pm to review the country’s overall situation including flood devastation.
Friendly countries support
Meanwhile, Several friendly countries have announced support for Pakistan in cash and kinds to help the flood victims. Humanitarian assistance and solidarity messages from different parts of the world continued to pour in as Saudi Arabia, Canada, France, Qatar, the UAE, Turkiye and Azerbaijan among the leading countries to pledge support in response to Pakistan’s call for help in the wake of devastation caused by flood. Saudi Arabia is the first country to dispatch relief goods to Pakistan last week.
Also, Pope Francis during his visit to the city of L’Aquila in central Italy on Sunday called on the international community to help Pakistan and said he was praying for the victims.
The Canadian government allocated $20,000 to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for flood relief operations in Pakistan, Canada’s International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan said in a statement on Saturday.
Canada is also a donor to the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which has allocated $3 million for flood response.
Qatar Charity
Meanwhile, Qatar Charity has delivered 3,000 tons urgent relief aid to flood-affected Afghan refugees and the underprivileged members of the host community in Balochistan, in collaboration with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
Support from Turkiye
On Sunday, the first Turkish plane with relief goods for flood victims landed at 8pm. Another plane from Turkiye also landed in Karachi two hours later with 14 tonnes of relief goods.
Similarly, the Turkish Red Crescent Society (TRCS), in collaboration with the PRCS, is providing cash assistance of Rs16,000 and 300 hygiene kits, 600 jerry cans, and 1,500 mosquito nets to 300 families in Jafferabad.
Moreover, 100 tents and 1,000 blankets will be sent by air cargo along with humanitarian aid by the Ministry of Interior, Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency of Turkiye.
French President
France Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna on Sunday offered condolences on the devastation caused by floods in Pakistan and also offered assistance during a telephone call with her counterpart Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, FM Bhutto-Zardari thanked Ms Colonna for “France’s expression of solidarity and offer of assistance to Pakistani people in this hour of need”. The FO said that the foreign minister briefed his French counterpart on the widespread destruction caused by unprecedented floods across the country.
Many other countries are also sending relief goods to Pakistan to help needy people in this critical time.
The government on Sunday warned that the number of population affected by floods may rise from 33 million as the length and breadth of the country continued to reel from the destruction caused by torrential rains and deluge.
Floods to affect 33 million people
Sherry Rehman Federal Minister for Climate Change said the floods and rains can affect 33 million people in Pakistan. She said that several areas still face the risk of floods due to high water inflow in Kabul and other rivers.
She said that as many as 1,033 people have lost their lives and more than 1,500 are injured. About one million cattle have been lost in the ongoing floods.
