Government Moves to Ease Burden on Flood-Affected Families
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Ministry of Finance to begin talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for temporary relief on electricity bills in flood-affected regions. The move aims to provide one-month exemption from power bills to households that continue to struggle in the aftermath of devastating floods across Pakistan.
According to officials, the prime minister emphasized that discussions with the IMF should be initiated without delay so that immediate assistance could reach affected communities. The relief package is expected to cover both urban and rural flood-hit areas, ensuring broad-based support for struggling families.
Punjab Requests Army’s Assistance in Damage Assessment
Meanwhile, the Punjab government has formally requested the federal government to deploy the Pakistan Army for post-flood damage surveys across 25 districts.
The Punjab Home Department, in a letter to the Ministry of Interior, stated that floods had caused extensive loss of lives, crops, livestock, property, and infrastructure. To ensure transparent surveys and fair compensation, the provincial government has proposed the deployment of 1,710 army personnel.
Each survey team will include an army representative alongside civil officials, with the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) covering all related expenses.
The districts identified for deployment include Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Chiniot, Faisalabad, Gujarat, Hafizabad, Jhang, Kasur, Khanewal, Lahore, Lodhran, Mandi Bahauddin, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Nankana Sahib, Narowal, Okara, Pakpattan, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Toba Tek Singh, Vehari, and Wazirabad.
Scale of Flood Damage Across Punjab
The PDMA Punjab has released a detailed report highlighting the massive scale of destruction caused by recent floods.
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97 people lost their lives in various incidents.
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Over 4,500 villages were submerged across the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers.
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Around 4.49 million people were affected, with 2.45 million successfully evacuated.
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Nearly 1.91 million livestock were shifted to safer areas.
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Authorities set up 396 relief camps in the hardest-hit districts.
According to the Relief Commissioner, 2,334 villages were affected by the Chenab floods, 1,482 villages by the Ravi, and 672 villages by the Sutlej.
Humanitarian Relief and Next Steps
The government’s proposed electricity bill exemption is seen as a vital step in easing financial stress on affected families. By engaging with the IMF, officials hope to secure international support for Pakistan’s ongoing recovery efforts.
At the same time, the involvement of the Pakistan Army in surveys is expected to enhance credibility, security, and public cooperation, ensuring that aid reaches the right people quickly and transparently.
The Punjab government has assured citizens that relief operations will continue until all displaced families are rehabilitated.