ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has appealed to Pakistanis at home and abroad to donate generously for flood relief, warning that millions remain in urgent need of food, shelter, and healthcare as unprecedented monsoon rains devastate large parts of the country.
Marking the World Day of Charity on Friday, Sharif said Pakistan’s long tradition of compassion and selfless giving must now be mobilized as the country confronts an unprecedented wave of monsoon devastation not witnessed since the catastrophic 2022 floods.
“On this World Day of Charity, I remind the people of Pakistan, both at home and abroad, to extend every possible support to their fellow citizens in relief and rehabilitation efforts after the floods,” he said.
“The floods have caused severe damage to the homes, livelihoods, and livestock of affected communities. Many remain in urgent need of food supplies, shelter, and healthcare,” Sharif said in his message on the World Day of Charity.
Nation Under Water
Pakistan’s disaster agency (NDMA) has issued a high alert for southern Sindh province, warning of “high to very high” flooding in Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Sanghar, Karachi, Hyderabad and Jamshoro, as well as Sukkur, Larkana, Khairpur, Dadu, and Jacobabad. Pakistan’s heartland, central Punjab province, home to half of Pakistan’s 240 million people, remains under severe pressure from surging Chenab River flows.
Since June 26, more than 883 people have died in floods, rains, and landslides, according to NDMA figures. Nearly 3.9 million people in Punjab alone have been affected, with 1.8 million displaced and thousands of villages submerged. Officials described the next 24 hours as “extremely critical” for Multan, the economic hub of southern Punjab.
The alerts revived memories of Pakistan’s 2022 deluge, when a third of the country was submerged, 30 million displaced, and economic losses exceeded $35 billion.
National Mobilisation
Sharif said the federal and provincial governments, armed forces, and civil society groups are working together in rescue and relief operations, but the scale of destruction demands broader support.
“Pakistani volunteers have always stood by their fellow citizens during accidents, natural disasters, wars, and other emergencies, providing both practical and financial support.” Sahrif said.
