-Chinese delegation presents cheque to PM for flood affectees
-PM thanks UAE for relief assistance to Pakistan
-Qatari Amir assures Pakistan of full support for flood affected people
-Death toll breaches 1,200 as restoration work continues
-Manchar Lake’s dyke breached to release water pressure
By Anzal Amin
ISLAMABAD: Eighty districts across the country have been declared ‘calamity-hit’ by the National Flood Response Coordination Centre (NFRCC).
Data issued by the NFRCC on Sunday mentioned that these districts include 31 in Balochistan, six in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), 17 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), three in Punjab and 23 in Sindh, while Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) remains un-hit.
Meanwhile, a delegation of Chinese companies led by China’s Consul General in Pakistan Zhao Shiren called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif here Sunday and presented him a cheque for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood affectees.
Talking to the Chinese delegation, whose companies had made business investment in Punjab, the PM said the government and people of China never left Pakistan alone in its hour of need. The friendship of the two countries was higher than the Himalayas and deeper than the ocean, he remarked.
“We are always proud of this friend and will remain so in the times to come.” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Sunday here met with the Charge d’Affaires of United Arab Emirates and discussed matters of mutual interest.
On behalf of the Pakistani nation, the Prime Minister thanked the government of the United Arab Emirates for sending planeloads of goods for the flood affectees.
He thanked President UAE Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for sending relief goods worth 50 million dollars and also thanked Prime Minister UAE Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for providing aid of 50 million Emirati Dirham. The PM said the United Arab Emirates stood with Pakistan in every hour of need and always supported Pakistan on the diplomatic front and on issues of foreign affairs. Pakistan valued its relations with the United Arab Emirates, he added.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a telephonic conversation with Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani on Sunday and discussed matters of mutual interest.
Recalling his recent visit to Qatar, the Prime Minister expressed his resolve to work relentlessly to implement the decisions taken during the visit.
The Amir conveyed condolences on the loss of precious lives and property, caused by floods in Pakistan. The Amir assured Qatar’s support for the flood-affected people of Pakistan.
The Prime Minister thanked the Amir for relief support provided by Qatar, including the air bridge for the provision of goods and equipment, as well as for the establishment of a field hospital in Sindh.
Pakistan and Qatar enjoy close and cordial relations rooted firmly in shared faith, mutual understanding, and commonality of interests.
Moreover, NFRCC maintained that 33,046,329 people have been affected by flash floods in Pakistan. Of this affected population, 9,182,616 are in Balochistan, 51,500 in G-B, 4,350,490 in K-P, 4,844,253 in Punjab, 14,563,770 in Sindh and 53,700 in AJK.
According to the centre, there are 29 teams conducting a survey of damage assessment in the flood-affected areas of Balochistan, including Quetta, Pashin and Chaman.
In a statement, the NFRCC informed that from June 14 till Sunday, 1,290 people have died, including 570 men, 259 women and 453 children.
In the last 24 hours alone, 26 people have lost their lives and 11 injured across the country due to flash floods. Since June, floods have disrupted roads and railway networks all over the country. In Balochistan, the M-8 motorway experienced land sliding in a 24km section of Wangu hills. In K-P, the N-50 has been opened for traffic except for the broken section of the Sagu bridge, restoration work for which is currently underway, while the N-95 is blocked between Bahrain and Laikot. In Sindh, the N-55 road is closed from Meher Johi Canal to Khairpur Nathan Shah as it is submerged in water.
Moreover, railway networks affected by floods include the Quetta to Taftan route in Balochistan, the Balochistan-Sindh line from Quetta to Sibbi to Habibkot, the Punjab-Sindh line from Hyderabad to Rohri to Multan and the Kotri to Lakhi Shah to Dadu route in Sindh.
The Karakoram Highway (KKH) has been opened for light traffic after the restoration of the last portion of the road at Zaid Khar, which has now been cleared.
According to the NFRCC, it will take time for the road to be able to carry heavy traffic. However, light traffic vehicles have been allowed on the Babusar route for the transportation of fuel and essential commodities in G-B.
The Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) is assessing the restoration of two-way traffic of heavy traffic vehicles along with the National Highway Authority (NHA).
Meanwhile, in a bid to save Pakistan’s largest lake and reduce the pressure of water entering the reservoir amid catastrophic floods across the country, the authorities on Sunday made a breach in Manchar Lake’s dyke at the RD-14 point.
Confirming the report, Sehwan’s Deputy Commissioner Captain (retd) Fariduddin Mustafa said that the cut was made in the dyke of Manchar Lake at RD-14 near Baug-e-Yusuf.
Manchar Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in Pakistan and is one of the largest lakes in Asia. It is located 18 km away from Sehwan Sharif in Jamshoro District and Dadu District, west of the Indus River.
“After the breach, the water will enter Indus River by passing through Kiranpur village and Indus Link,” according to the Sindh Irrigation Department. The breach will reduce the pressure of water entering the lake by 30%, said the officials.
“The next 24 to 48 hours are crucial for the Manchar Lake,” the deputy commissioner said, adding that there is pressure on the lake’s dykes from RD-54 to RD-58.
On the other hand, pressure increased on ring embankments raised to protect Johi and Mehar cities from flooding. Residents were dumping stones and other flood-fighting materials to reinforce the dykes.
Matiari city and the National Highway are feared to be submerged as the gate of Chandan branch at Rohri Canal could not be repaired despite the passage of several hours.
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon shared that the cut has been made in Manchar Lake at the place where Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah’s house is.
Speaking to the media in Hyderabad, Memon said that the decision to make a cut at the RD-14 point was taken to save the nearby towns. Memon said that 125,000 people will have to be displaced due to the five UCs being affected. Government machinery is on site to move the people and the victims will be shifted to nearby districts, he said.
Last night, localities situated near Manchar Lake had been directed to evacuate to safer places as the water level at the lake has increased to a dangerous level, posing a threat to breaking the dyke.
According to Deputy Commissioner Jamshoro Capt (retd.) Farid-Uddin-Mustafa, the water level at the Manchhar lake is continuously on the rise. He said the lake’s embankment may cave in at any time. Accordingly, the union councils of Wahar, Bobak, Jaffarabad and Chana should be vacated, he said.
The Deputy Commissioner further directed the people to avoid visiting Manchar Lake unnecessarily as its dyke, RD54 to RD58, is withstanding huge pressure.
The official said the dyke will not be breached and a last-ditch effort will be made [to keep the embankment intact]. “The next 24 to 48 hours are crucial for the Manchhar Lake,” he cautioned.
