Punjab Prime Minister Maryam Nawaz praised on Saturday the important efforts of the district commissioners, the police, rescue teams and the Pakistan army when mitigating the devastation of floods, ordering authorities to take proactive measures to help victims.
Speaking at a meeting with the District Commissioners at the headquarters of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), it ordered the members of the Provincial Assembly to visit their respective constituencies and communicate personally with the people to find out if they receive the assistance and aid required.
“We have witnessed a remarkable teamwork in Punjab,” he said, recognizing the combined efforts of the army and several agencies that helped save more than 600,000 lives.
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The main minister mentioned that the province faced the worst flood crises due to the continuous rains and the release of water of the Indian neighbor. However, the timely evacuation of residents was a remarkable achievement by combined rescue teams.
She said that the help efforts for the victims of the floods were underway throughout the day, and added that the largest rescue operation in the history of Pakistan had been carried out in Punjab.
He added that the continuous rain had worsened the situation, which caused the greatest rescue operation in the history of Pakistan. More than 450,000 cattle were rescued and relocated in safe areas, he said.
Maryam expressed his appreciation for the relentless work of the authorities, stating that not only lives were saved, but also more than 450,000 animals had been rescued.
He also stressed the need for preventive measures in areas at risk, and emphasized that even forced evacuations should be carried out when necessary to save lives.
To guarantee the safety of animals, she instructed that the boats were replaced with rafts to transport cattle more effectively.
Read too: The worst flooding of the monsoon in decades leave millions displaced in Pakistan
The main minister also requested the construction of temporary shelters, appropriate sanitation facilities and the use of school buildings such as help camps.
“In Punjab, the government is responsible to the people. We must communicate with those in need, instead of waiting for help,” he said, urging the authorities to maintain a compassionate approach.
The principal minister praised the efforts of local officials, particularly Nanowal’s deputy commissioner, for the rapid cleaning of Kartarpur Gurdwara, who faced strong floods.
