DERA GHAZI KHAN: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in a visit to flood-hit Dera Ghazi Khan on Thursday directed authorities to step up rescue and relief efforts in affected areas, Radio Pakistan reported.

The CM was also briefed about flood relief in DG Khan. Speaking to the press, he said he was monitoring the flood situation and rescue activities himself.

Shahbaz Sharif cut short a visit to London in order to personally monitoring relief activities in flood-hit south Punjab districts.

He was in London for a medical check-up, but decided to immediately return home, a Punjab government official earlier told Dawn.

In his instructions to the cabinet committee on floods, the chief minister called for accelerating relief activities in the affected areas.

He directed the committee to visit the flood-hit villages to monitor relief activities while the concerned administration and institutions of the affected districts should perform their duties in an efficient manner.

He said food and other requirements of the affected people should be fulfilled. He said fodder should also be arranged for the cattle of the flood-tossed people. cut short a visit to London earlier

The Chief Minister's visit to DG Khan comes a day after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited flood-hit Chitral.

Earlier this week, the PPP Secretary General Sardar Latif Khosa criticised Shahbaz Sharif for extending his stay in London at a time when a large number of people in south Punjab were affected by the flood.

Read more: PPP slates Sharif for London stay in ‘flood situation’

Khanzada puts authorities on high alert

Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada while addressing a meeting in Muzaffargarh directed officials to be on high alert in order to provide relief to flood-hit areas in the province.

He said an initial amount of Rs5 million had been released for flood-affected districts. The minister also pledged to issue a supplementary grant of Rs17m to these districts as needed.

US offers assistance in aftermath of recent floods

The United States has offered assistance to the people of Pakistan in aftermath of recent floods.

A statement issued by the US Embassy in Islamabad has said that US ambassador Richard Olson extended his deepest sympathies to the people of Pakistan.

He said people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit–Baltistan have been affected by recent flash floods, including the nearly 300,000 people currently displaced from their homes.

"Our thoughts are with all those affected, and we applaud the efforts of those who are working to bring relief to those in need," the US ambassador was quoted as saying.

Flood warning and weather outlook

The Pakistan Meteorological Department report issued a flood warning on Thursday announcing a risk of flash floods in parts of Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, eastern Balochistan and Kashmir over the next five days due to unstable weather conditions and significant monsoon rains.

Heavy rainfall in Karachi and Hyderabad may cause urban flooding during the next 24 to 36 hours.

Scattered heavy rainfall is also expected in Thatta, Badin and Sajawal over this time period.

The PMD advised those living in low-lying areas, especially along streams and nullahs, to exercise caution over the next few days.

Scattered rainfall is expected in parts of Balochistan, Punjab, KP , Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Gilgit-Baltistan on Thursday. Isolated heavy rainfall may also occur in Malakand, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, and Kashmir.

The PMD said strong monsoon currents were prevalent in southern parts of Pakistan, while the moderate monsoon currents present in upper and central parts of the country will prevail for the next few days.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority on Thursday released a weather and flood report which showed a high flow in the Siran River at Dhryal, while the flow in the Indus River at Attock Khairabad was medium.

Balakot experienced 96 millimetres of rainfall while Kakul received 68mm, followed by Upper Dir and Malam Jabba with 25mm and 23mm respectively.