Federal Flood Commission warns Pakistan under threat of super flood this year

With the summer beginning in full-swing, Federal Flood Commission (FFC) Chairman Ahmad Kamal has warned that there is threat of super flood looming in the country this year during the monsoon season due to climatic change.

Briefing the NA chaired by Nawab Yousuf Talpur, the FFC chairman shared that due to the shift in rainfall zone from North East to North West, an addition of 25 districts came under influence of monsoon. From these districts, the chairman added that 14 from Punjab and 11 from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, which were saved before, could experience a flood, local media reported.

Kamal told the NA committee that after every two to three years, the danger of flood exists and FFC informs the provinces in time. He added that the country has suffered a loss of over $ 19 billion losses due to flash floods in last six years.

The FFC chairman said that funds spent on flood protection were little when compared to damage caused by flooding in Pakistan. Kamal further said that water sector has been ignored and there is no permanent Indus Water Commissioner appointed during the last two years.

Kamal added that a 10-year National Flood Protection Plan-IV has been prepared with estimated cost of Rs.332 billion and has been approved by Council of Common Interests. The federal government and provinces would share its cost 50:50, the FCC chairman said.