Recent torrential rains and devastating floods have unleashed widespread destruction across the country, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 1,006 lives. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the fatalities include 275 children, 163 women, and 568 men.
The NDMA has confirmed that massive relief and rescue operations are ongoing by authorities to reach the flood-affected areas and assess the extent of the damage.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has reported the highest death toll with 504 fatalities, comprising 90 children, 338 men and 76 women.
Punjab recorded 304 deaths, including 110 children, 143 men and 51 women.
Sindh saw 80 casualties, with 35 children, 35 men and 10 women among them.
The death toll in other regions includes 41 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 38 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and 30 in Balochistan. The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) also lost 9 residents, including five children, three men, and one woman.
In a separate development, the Power Division reported the restoration of 582 power feeders in flood-hit areas nationwide. Out of a total of 51 grids and 585 feeders that were initially affected, 417 have been completely reactivated and 165 partially restored.
Meanwhile, the M-5 Motorway near Multan remains closed for the 19th consecutive day due to the flood damage. Motorway Police stated that the 20-kilometer stretch between Multan and the Jhangra Interchange has sustained severe damage at over a dozen locations.
The government has informed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that the recent floods have caused an estimated loss of 371 billion rupees to the infrastructure and agriculture sectors. In light of this damage, the government has revised the GDP growth target downwards by 0.3 percentage points, setting the new goal at 3.9 percent.
The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a new alert for the upper regions of the province, predicting heavy rainfall between October 5 and October 7.
A spokesperson for the PDMA warned that the expected rain in the upper catchment areas of the rivers could lead to a significant increase in water flow across rivers and adjoining streams in Punjab. The weather forecast cautions of torrential rain in most districts, urging both residents and authorities to remain vigilant against potential flood risks.
