Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the National Highway Authority and Energy Ministry to take urgent steps for the restoration of the communication and power transmission systems in the flood-hit areas on a priority basis. He issued these instructions while chairing a review meeting on the flood situation and ongoing rescue and relief operations, pausing his engagements in Beijing.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister emphasized that the federal and provincial governments, along with all concerned institutions, must continue working in full coordination for the assistance of the affected families, their relocation to safer places, and the restoration of damaged infrastructure. He instructed the relevant authorities to pay special attention to relief and rehabilitation operations in view of the flood situation in Punjab and Sindh. Additionally, he directed the Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority to maintain complete coordination with the provincial disaster management authorities and to provide them with all necessary support.

Shehbaz Sharif also instructed the authorities to swiftly complete the search for those who went missing due to the floods. The meeting was informed that the flood situation in Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej rivers is being continuously monitored, and regulation of dams and barrages is ongoing in view of the rising water levels. The Prime Minister was briefed on the increasing flood situation in Punjab and Sindh, caused by the swelling of rivers.

It was reported that NDMA is actively cooperating with provincial administrations and disaster management authorities at sites including Trimmu, Balloki, Sadhnai, Ganda Singh Wala, and Sulemanki in the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers to address potential flood threats. Severe flooding is expected at the Panjnad after the arrival of floodwaters from these rivers, which is likely to reach Guddu Barrage by Saturday afternoon, where the situation is being closely monitored.

In view of the expected flood at Guddu in Sindh, NDMA is fully cooperating with the Sindh Government to ensure proper arrangements. In the flood-affected areas, Rescue 1122, Pakistan Army, Rangers, NGOs, and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities are actively engaged in joint relief operations. Relief supplies are being regularly dispatched to the affected areas, while restoration of the electricity supply system and damaged infrastructure is progressing rapidly.