Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for formulating a coordinated plan, in consultation with the provinces, to prevent losses in view of growing intensity of cloudbursts in the future. He was speaking at a briefing given to him at the National Emergencies Operation Centre of the NDMA in Islamabad today regarding the existing monsoon rains and flood situation in the country.

According to Radio Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif stated that the Ministries of Climate Change and Planning must engage in close coordination with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and provinces to evolve an effective strategy to mitigate losses resulting from rains. He emphasized the provision of all possible equipment and resources to the NDMA to achieve this objective.

The Prime Minister also commended the NDMA and provincial governments for effectively undertaking relief and rescue operations in the country. He expressed confidence that provinces will also upgrade their rescue and relief agencies by providing them with the latest equipment.

Earlier, during the briefing to the Prime Minister, Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik highlighted that the intensity of monsoon rains is sixty to seventy percent higher this year compared to last year. He noted that traditionally there are around nine monsoon spells, but this year there will be two to three more spells.

The Chairman, however, ruled out any threat of large-scale flooding as all the rivers in the country are flowing in normal conditions. Regarding the losses, he reported that so far 178 people have died and around five hundred others have been injured in rain-related incidents.