ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to ensuring complete rehabilitation and reconstruction in flood-affected areas, describing the ongoing crisis as a shared responsibility requiring coordinated action at all levels.
Chairing a meeting of the federal cabinet, the prime minister said the death toll from widespread rains and flooding had surpassed 700, which he termed as “too high”, and pledged sustained support until “every single victim stands on its feet”.
Raising concerns over the impact of unauthorised construction along natural water channels, Sharif said such practices had repeatedly burdened both federal and provincial authorities.
He further noted that the intensifying effects of climate change had expanded the country’s obligations in disaster preparedness and response.
“I will not rest until full rehabilitation and reconstruction are completed in the worst-affected area,” he said. “The relief and rehabilitation of those affected is our collective responsibility. We will work together without pause.”
Highlighting the scale of the damage, Sharif said over 400 deaths had been reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Buner district alone, where landslides and cloudbursts have devastated communities in the mountainous belt.
He had earlier visited the flood affected regions and described the destruction as “massive”, pointing to similar devastation in Swat, Shangla, Mansehra and other remote areas.
Damage has also been reported in Karachi, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir. The prime minister said he had personally visited flood-hit zones in Gilgit-Baltistan and held consultations with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
Sharif noted that the Pakistan Army, led by Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, had been deployed to assist in ongoing rescue and relief operations. Helicopters and ground units were involved in evacuations, clearing debris and delivering aid to affected populations.
“Officers and soldiers have reached remote locations to extract victims and support local efforts,” he said, expressing gratitude to the armed forces for their continued engagement.
Comparing the current monsoon season to the catastrophic 2022 floods, Sharif said this year’s disaster had resulted in a higher human toll.
“In 2022, the economic damage was immense but lives were relatively spared. This time, the human cost is tragically higher,” he added.
He also drew attention to unregulated construction along riverbeds, blaming poor planning and environmental negligence for exacerbating flood damage.
“How long will federal and provincial governments keep paying for illegal buildings constructed in the path of water,” he asked. A high-level meeting, he added, would soon be convened to address the issue.
“There is no excuse for disasters caused by human negligence,” he said, citing the destruction caused by construction on riverbanks during the 2022 floods.
Sharif also condemned rampant deforestation in regions such as Mansehra and Galiyat, once known for their dense tree cover. “It pains me to see trees being cut where once even a single tree could not fall,” he remarked.
He directed the Ministry of Climate Change, led by Dr Musadik Malik, and other institutions to enhance their roles in mitigating climate-related risks. “Our responsibilities in this regard have grown,” he noted.
While acknowledging that no financial assistance could compensate for the loss of human life, Sharif said relief payments were being disbursed to families of the deceased to help them rebuild their lives, access healthcare, and resume livelihoods.
Turning to foreign policy, the prime minister confirmed that the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would be launched during his forthcoming visit to Beijing, where he will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit and hold bilateral meetings with Chinese leadership.
“China has always stood by Pakistan. Our strategic partnership continues to grow,” he said, describing the bilateral relationship as “evergreen.”
He also termed the recent talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as “comprehensive and fruitful”. Wang concluded his visit on Thursday after holding discussions with Prime Minister Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir and other senior officials.
The federal cabinet offered Fateha for the victims of the recent rains and flash floods. According to official figures, at least 785 people have lost their lives nationwide during the current monsoon spell.
Separately, at a high-level review meeting convened on the same day, the prime minister directed the Ministry of Water Resources to assist Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in restoring water systems in flood-hit areas.
Emphasising the transition from rescue to rehabilitation, he called relief efforts a national duty. Announcing a campaign against illegal construction along waterways, he warned against disasters caused by human negligence.
He ordered ministers to supervise relief efforts on the ground. Expressing concern over a glacier outburst in Ghizer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, he instructed NDMA and army engineers to monitor and manage the situation, ensuring evacuation from vulnerable areas.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025