ISLAMABAD: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt General Inam Haider Malik said on Thursday that the authority has delivered 9,500 tons of relief supplies to flood-affected areas in Punjab.
Speaking at a media briefing alongside Minister for Climate Change Dr Musadik Malik, he said the relief operation was conducted in close coordination with Pakistan’s state institutions, industrial sector, private enterprises, and philanthropic organizations.
He said over 9,000 tents have been provided to Punjab as part of military contribution assistance. The overall relief package includes 30,000 tents, along with boats and ration kits, forming part of a large-scale humanitarian aid initiative.
Prior to this, NDMA coordinated relief efforts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, ensuring timely support in all regions where help was needed.
He said a new spell of rainfall is expected from September 16 to 18, likely affecting Azad Jammu and Kashmir, northern and central Punjab, and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The intensity is expected to be moderate, unlike the heavy monsoon rains seen in August. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and have urged local administrations to stay alert.
The NDMA chairman said more than 2.4 million people have been evacuated from flood-prone villages across Punjab. Over 5,000 villages are currently submerged.The rehabilitation process will begin in three to four weeks, once floodwaters recede and critical infrastructure such as roads and communication networks is restored.
In Sindh, he said relief operations have gained momentum with the unprecedented involvement of volunteers. So far, around 150,000 people have been relocated to safe locations, with more evacuations expected as weather conditions evolve.
Chairman Malik warned that the intensity and scale of climate-related disasters in Pakistan are likely to increase in the coming years. This year, flash floods, debris flows, and hill torrents were recorded in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir—regions that have traditionally been less affected. These areas are now increasingly exposed to glacial melt and erratic rainfall, contributing to sudden and destructive flooding.
In response, the prime minister has directed the launch of a Special National Dialogue Process, involving all relevant institutions to formulate comprehensive recommendations. The aim is to develop a long-term national strategy to strengthen Pakistan’s resilience against climate change and mitigate future losses.