Quaid-e-Millat-e-Jafariya Pakistan, Allama Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi, expressing concern over the devastating and historic flood situation across the country, said that in this hour of calamity the government must ensure the rehabilitation of the flood victims and that help should reach every person in need. He stressed that a coordinated strategy and action plan must be prepared to cope with the effects of future disasters and that we must move toward lasting and effective solutions.
Allama Sajid Naqvi further said that in this difficult time, facilities should be provided without any discrimination to flood victims across the country, and philanthropists should come forward and actively participate in welfare efforts. He pointed out that floods continue in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, and their effects will also reach Sindh. Across the country, hundreds of deaths have been confirmed, thousands of homes destroyed, more than 6,000 livestock lost, 238 bridges and 661 kilometers of roads washed away, several dams breached, while thousands of villages are submerged by floodwaters and the number of victims has reached into the millions. In addition, cotton, rice and vegetable crops have been severely damaged, and the River Indus is facing a super flood situation, while rains are forecast to continue until the end of September, which could further damage crops and affect 72 percent of agricultural land.
In view of the nature of this emergency, Allama demanded that federal and provincial governments take all possible measures to protect the lives and property of the people and maximize rescue and relief operations. At the same time, he directed workers and volunteers to remain in the field to the extent possible to protect the lives and property of the people, and to serve their fellow citizens in this difficult situation. He further said that due to recent climate changes and the flooding situation, all affected areas of Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab should be declared disaster-hit zones.
