ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC) to immediately begin preparations for the 2026 monsoon season and present a comprehensive climate resilience action plan within two weeks. The plan will focus on flood preparedness, disaster risk reduction, and long-term climate adaptation to protect vulnerable communities from increasingly severe rainfall and flooding linked to climate change.
Chairing a high-level review meeting in Islamabad on recent flood damages, rescue operations, and rehabilitation measures, the Prime Minister declared the rehabilitation of flood-affected citizens a top national priority. He stressed that southern Pakistan’s river-adjacent regions must be fully prepared to withstand future flood risks.
The Prime Minister assured that the federal government will extend complete support to provincial administrations in disaster management, relief operations, and long-term rehabilitation. He emphasized the importance of real-time monitoring of evacuation and rescue missions to ensure timely assistance. A special committee will also be established to provide financial aid to flood victims not registered with NADRA.
Highlighting Pakistan’s urgent climate challenges, PM Shehbaz urged the Ministry of Climate Change to finalize a forward-looking climate action plan that strengthens resilient infrastructure, early warning systems, and adaptive community-level responses.
The Prime Minister praised the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs), the Pakistan Army, and civil rescue teams for their coordinated efforts in recent flood-hit areas.
According to the latest briefings, floodwaters from Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers have entered parts of central and southern Punjab but are being managed at significantly lower levels than forecasted. Authorities had prepared for a potential 1.2 million cusecs water flow, but the actual flow is closer to 600,000 cusecs, reducing immediate threats.
In Multan, district authorities, rescue agencies, and military teams remain on high alert to manage the safe passage of waters and protect embankments. Restoration efforts have achieved 80% recovery of electricity supply in northern and central Pakistan, while damaged roads and bridges have been reopened to enable relief access.
Nationally, over two million people have been evacuated from vulnerable zones, while 4,100 stranded citizens were rescued from isolated regions. The government has dispatched more than 6,300 tons of relief goods, and 2,400 medical camps are operational in flood-affected areas.
Compensation for deceased persons, the injured, and property losses is being processed on a priority basis through NADRA.
The meeting included participation from chief secretaries of all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, who provided regional updates via video link. Federal ministers Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, and Sardar Awais Khan Leghari, alongside the chairmen of NDMA and NADRA, were also present.
Reaffirming his commitment, the Prime Minister stated that the federal government will work alongside provinces until complete rehabilitation of all flood victims is achieved, ensuring climate resilience, disaster preparedness, and long-term sustainability remain central to Pakistan’s future planning.
