ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed the federal government’s “unwavering support” for victims of devastating monsoon floods that have killed at least 785 people across the South Asian country since late June, with northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bearing the heaviest toll.
Speaking at a meeting of the federal cabinet, the prime minister pledged to accelerate rehabilitation efforts in the flood-hit areas of the province.
He expressed deep concern over the severe impact of heavy rains, cloudbursts, and flash floods that have wreaked havoc across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in Swat, Swabi, Mansehra, and Shangla.
The flash floods—triggered by this year’s most intense monsoon spells and cloudbursts, which began in the mountainous northwest—have since swept across other parts of the country, causing widespread destruction and loss of life in the nation of 240 million.
Floods claim 785 lives
At least 785 people have lost their lives countrywide in devastating floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains from June 26 to August 22.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded the highest fatalities at 469, followed by Punjab with 165, Gilgit Baltistan (GB) with 45, Sindh with 51, and Balochistan with 24.
The Prime Minister said that federal ministers, secretaries, the chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and the armed forces were fully engaged in ongoing relief efforts across the affected areas.
He also noted that Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir had accompanied him during his recent visit to Buner and other flood-affected regions in KP.
Recalling the devastation caused by the 2022 floods—which resulted in extensive property damage and claimed nearly 100 lives—Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif drew attention to the alarming human toll of the recent flash floods and cloudbursts.
While the geographical impact this time has been more limited, the loss of life has been significantly higher, with over 700 fatalities reported—more than 400 of them in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone.
He also referenced similar weather-related disasters in Karachi, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, expressing solidarity with the affected communities and reaffirming the government’s commitment to providing support and relief.
PM Shehbaz added that the illegal constructions on the waterways should be discouraged. “I will call a meeting soon to discuss the matter,” he added.
Glacier outburst triggers flooding in Gilgit-Baltistan
Earlier today, a glacier outburst in the Gilgit-Baltistan region triggered flash floods, damaging more than 100 homes and displacing hundreds of families, local authorities said.
The disaster struck Roshan Valley in Ghizer district after a glacier burst near Tali Das in Gupis Valley, creating an artificial lake and blocking the flow of the Ghizer River for nearly eight hours.
Officials said several villages were submerged, but no loss of life has been reported.
Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson Faizullah Firaq confirmed the incident, saying floodwaters had swept through Talidas and Rawshan villages, washing away houses, farmlands, and infrastructure.
