Federal Minister Senator Sherry Rehman, leading the PM’s Needs Assessment Committee, visited various areas affected by monsoon flooding in Keti Bandar, Thatta and Badin cities following the monsoon spells. After a briefing by respective district commissioners on current rainfall situation, damages caused by monsoon floods and the relief measures taken, Minister Rehman expressed, “People have suffered great losses. Their animals have drowned, crops have been destroyed and houses severely damaged. We will be requesting PM for immediate relief measures to the affectees.”
Expressing concern over the devastation in Thatta and Badin areas, Federal Minister remarked, “Thatta district was deluged as the water comes from all sides and these are tail areas. Miles and miles of cotton crops have been destroyed and enhanced sea intrusion has wiped out crops and livelihoods, while infrastructure damage has added to the capacity issues for dealing with extreme weather events. About 72,515 acres of crop land has been damaged by flood in Thatta and 25000 acres in Badin. The team observed that district Thatta’s problems are quite different from Badin, although both have severe drought and soil salination issues all year round except when it rains. In Badin the paddy rice fields have suffered from this year’s heatwave as there wasn’t enough water for sowing, to make it worse, they are now flooded. Excavation machines and water pumps will have to be doubled if both areas are to survive the next round of monsoon down pours. The old culverts and drains can no longer absorb the volume of water that rushes down, leading to both urban and rural flooding in both areas.”
Speaking to the media, during the visit to assess the damages caused by the unprecedented monsoon rains all over Pakistan, Minister Rehman stressed, “We will conduct a needs assessment and will be recommending compensation for houses and casualties to the PM as well as more medium-term measures to build resilience. However, we also need long term resilience and adaptation plans to build a buffer for new weather shocks that should now be expected every year. Furthermore, we will be recommending changes and investments in the drainage systems, storm mitigation, as well as water and waste management capacities of the areas visited today. The whole world is going through the devastating impacts of climate change causing heatwaves and forest fires. We need to come together and focus on rehabilitation of those most affected by these rains.”
Minister Rehman is part of the Committee designated by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to augment effective coordination for relief efforts in flood-hit areas in all Provinces. The Federal Minister was accompanied by Syed Amin ul Haq, Federal Minister for Information Technology & Telecommunication, MNA Mr Kesoo Mal Kheeal Das, the local population, as well as NDMA and PDMA. The committee will be conducting assessment in the flood-hit areas of Dadu and Kambar-Shahdadkot tomorrow.
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