Pakistan Punjab Forms Flood Relief Committees After 123 Deaths, 3,775 Villages Affected

The Punjab government has announced the formation of flood relief committees at district and tehsil levels to oversee aid and rehabilitation in areas devastated by the recent floods, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said on Friday. The initiative aims to ensure timely and organized assistance to affected residents.

Maryam directed officials to implement comprehensive rehabilitation efforts, repair damaged roads and bridges, and streamline procedures for providing aid. “A survey form, a mobile application, and a central monitoring dashboard will ensure effective aid distribution and oversight,” she said during a meeting with senior officials.

The floods have affected 3,775 villages across 64 tehsils in 27 districts, damaging over 63,000 concrete houses and more than 309,000 mud structures. Survey teams, including officials from the Urban Unit, Revenue, Agriculture departments, and the Pakistan Army, have been deployed to collect accurate data for compensation and relief efforts.

A breach in the Sutlej River at Noraja Bhutta has worsened the situation in south Punjab, inundating 150 more villages in Multan, Lodhran, and Bahawalpur. Thousands of residents have been displaced, with floodwaters spreading across a 20-kilometre stretch near the Multan-Sukkur M-5 Motorway. Authorities are considering controlled breaching of the motorway to redirect water into the Chenab River.

Multan Division Commissioner Amir Karim Khan supervised relief operations in Jalalpur Pirwala, while the National Highway Authority and Motorway Police arranged diversions and repair operations. PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia confirmed the death toll in Punjab has reached 123. Floodwaters are receding in many areas, with boat operations gradually halted.

Reports indicate over 1.17 million people affected, 1,112 villages submerged, and massive damage to agriculture, including 1.17 million acres of farmland and 1.25 million acres of destroyed crops. Relief measures include 1,145 camps providing food, medicine, and essentials, with more than 1.5 million people and 1.47 million livestock evacuated. Medical treatment has been delivered to 451,978 individuals, while 848,119 animals received care.

PPP Acting President Yusuf Raza Gilani visited Jalalpur Pirwala and urged the government to assist flood victims through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), highlighting the importance of structured financial support for affected families.

The state government continues to monitor flood-hit regions and coordinate with federal authorities to ensure that no victim is left without aid.