ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) informed the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives on Friday that this year’s monsoon floods have so far claimed 1,037 lives across the country, with the highest casualties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (509) and Punjab (322). Another 1,067 people, including women and children, were reported injured.
The NDMA briefing revealed that 12,569 homes were destroyed, nearly 3 million people rescued in 5,769 operations, and 741 medical relief camps set up benefiting over 662,000 people. Relief agencies distributed 17,370 tons of goods, including food, rations, and shelter items, while over 2 million animals were vaccinated to prevent disease outbreaks.
Despite these efforts, the committee, chaired by Syed Abdul Kadir Gillani, MNA, expressed serious dissatisfaction with the distribution of aid, particularly in Multan and Bahawalpur divisions. Members said relief efforts lacked coordination, with government officials absent from many areas. Gillani remarked: “Who decides where aid goes? Why were elected representatives, who know ground realities, sidelined in relief distribution? We were left to manage on our own while the government remained missing.”
The Committee also raised concerns about the Rs. 2 million compensation announced for families of the deceased, questioning its adequacy and transparency in disbursement.
Lawmakers further grilled NDMA over its early warning system. While NDMA insisted advisories were issued on time, it admitted that exact flood predictions remain outside its control.
Looking ahead, the Committee called for building smaller, non-controversial dams and utilizing natural elevations to minimize future flood risks. It announced visits to Swat and later Multan to assess the situation on the ground, while directing the Planning Ministry to present a comprehensive flood containment and recovery strategy in the next meeting.
The Committee also emphasized a full post-flood economic damage assessment and stressed the need for strict transparency in the use of relief funds. It urged the government to prioritize agricultural rehabilitation through seed distribution and repair of irrigation systems.
The meeting was attended by Syed Sami Ul Hassan Gillani, Maj (R) Tahir Iqbal, Ms. Naz Baloch, Ms. Akhtar Bibi, Mr. Farhan Chishti, Minister of State Armaghan Subhani, and senior officials from concerned ministries.
