ISLAMABAD: An emergency session was chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad on Saturday to discuss the situation that emerged after the brutal spell of monsoon rains in the country.

The meeting was attended by Information Minister Pervez Rashid, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Secretary Cabinet Division Mr. Akhlaq Ahmad Tarar and Chairman of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Major Gen Muhammad Saeed Aleem.

During the meeting, the premier was briefed on the destruction caused by rains and flooding of several areas.

The premier issued a directive, saying that all major national highways, which have been cut off due to heavy rains, should be cleared in order to ensure that relief work can continue at a quick pace.

PM Nawaz has also directed the NDMA to assess the extent of damage.

AP adds: A government official said that 110 people were killed across the country in heavy monsoon downpours and flooding.

Ahmad Kamal, a spokesman for the NDMA, said that 61 people had died in the eastern province of Punjab since Thursday.

He said another 38 people died in Azad Kashmir whereas 11 died in the northern Gilgit Baltistan province.

Kamal said officials believed all those were killed when the roofs of their homes collapsed.

Authorities fear that the death toll may rise as more rain and flooding is predicted in the upcoming days.

Reports from different parts of the country have indicated huge losses to property, cattle and crops, especially in Sialkot and Gujranwala regions, due to swelling of nullahs and exceptionally high flooding in Chenab and Jhelum rivers.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.