PM Shehbaz calls for urgent water storage projects to tackle recurring floods

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday emphasised the need for building additional water storage infrastructure to reduce the impact of recurring floods, as Pakistan continues to grapple with heavy monsoon rains and inflows from across the border.

Chairing a high-level meeting in Narowal to review the flood situation, the prime minister said enhancing storage capacity was “the need of the hour” to safeguard lives, agriculture, and infrastructure. “Without wasting time, we must start work immediately,” he urged, calling for self-reliance in generating resources for new dams and reservoirs.

Shehbaz highlighted the importance of accelerating ongoing projects, including the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, to strengthen resilience against climate-induced disasters. “Pakistan is among the top ten most vulnerable countries to climate change, and such calamities will recur if we do not prepare,” he warned.

The meeting was informed that more than 800 people have died in the current monsoon spell, while India’s release of excess water from its dams this week has swelled river flows downstream in Punjab. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported that over 210,000 villagers were evacuated near the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers.

The premier commended coordinated rescue and relief efforts led by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the NDMA, provincial authorities, and the Pakistan Army, which he said had helped minimise casualties. He also recalled the devastating 2022 floods that inundated large parts of Sindh and Balochistan.

CM Maryam, addressing the meeting, expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and crops but noted that “no deaths occurred due to negligence or lack of coordination.” She said over 50,000 people had been rescued, with minimal livestock losses due to timely evacuations.