Government steps up flood response with ministerial oversight

August 18, 2025 (MLN): The government has directed all federal ministers to immediately move to flood-affected regions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir to personally supervise relief and recovery operations.

Speaking at a press conference, Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik said the Prime Minister has ordered ministers to coordinate efforts on the ground.

Every minister has been made responsible for ensuring the restoration of electricity, water supply, and road networks in affected areas.

Major highways are expected to reopen within 24 hours, while special teams work to repair damaged power grids and water systems, according to the press release issued today.

Malik emphasized that all federal resources will reach those in need and pledged both immediate relief and long-term support for communities impacted by the floods.

He expressed condolences to those who lost loved ones, homes, or livelihoods and stressed that the federal government, alongside provincial authorities, will restore homes and support affected families.

Highlighting Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change despite its minimal global emissions, Malik noted that the country faces severe consequences, including glacier melting, cloudbursts, and flash floods, while the top polluting nations account for the majority of emissions and receive most climate financing.

He criticized this as “clear hypocrisy at the international level” and stated Pakistan will continue raising the issue globally while strengthening its own disaster preparedness and climate resilience.

Malik also announced the development of a fully integrated early warning and weather prediction system with NDMA to provide timely alerts.

He urged provincial governments to relocate communities living along riverbanks and mountain streams to safe zones, stressing the destructive force of flash floods.

The minister further assured that future infrastructure and development projects will be delivered on time, within budget, and with quality under strict monitoring to avoid delays that have plagued past initiatives.

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