PM Shehbaz reaches Sukkur to review ongoing relief & rescue activities in flood-affected areas

ISLAMABAD, August 26 (SABAH): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Sukkur on Friday to review the ongoing relief and rescue activities in the flood-affected areas.

He was received by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari along with Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah upon his arrival. Prior to his landing, he took an aerial view of the devastation caused by the recent rains.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb had announced that Shehbaz will be visiting various flood-affected regions of Sukkur in Sindh during his trip. The Prime Minister will visit Rohri, Khairpur, Faizganj, Kot Diji and Thari Mir Wah.

The minister said that the prime minister would meet the flood victims to review the relief work and to know their condition.

Earlier, PM Shehbaz met with members of the diplomatic community in Islamabad to sensitise them about the damages caused by rain-induced floods which have ravaged various regions of the country.

“As part of efforts to mobilise all resources, I met Islamabad-based ambassadors, high commissioners & senior members of diplomatic corps to sensitise them about the scale of human tragedy,” the premier announced through his official Twitter handle.

During the meeting, representatives of the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) were briefed about the current status of the challenges faced due to the floods and the response to them.

PM Shehbaz highlighted that the “ongoing rain spell had caused devastation across the country”.

“The losses, though yet to be documented, are comparable to the flash floods of 2010,” he stated.

He thanked the international community for “their sympathies, condolences and pledges of support”. “Together we will build back better,” he remarked.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, international organisations and financial institutions had announced immediate assistance of more than $500 million for the flood victims on the premier’s appeal.

PM Shehbaz also met with international donors to sensitise them about the prevailing situation. Representatives of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, international financial institutions, development partners and donors attended the meeting.

Officials from China, the United States and the European Union, agencies of the United Nations and the World Health Organisation were also part of the meeting.