Pakistan forms nodal agency to counter raging floods

Islamabad: The record monsoon showers in Pakistan led the government there to set up a nodal disaster agency to provide an institutional response to the severe crisis. The devastating rains have displaced more than 33 million, one-seventh of the nation's population, PTI reported.

Till Monday, the total death count registered here stands at 1,136, while 1,634 were injured, Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority informed.

On Tuesday, Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal estimated that more than 10 million US dollars would be required to rebuild destroyed infrastructure in the floods. The said amount is around 3 per cent of the country's GDP.

On Monday, the national government set up the National Flood Response and Coordination Centre, comprising federal ministers, representatives of armed forces, chief ministers and experts.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's office tweeted, "The Centre will serve as a bridge between disaster management authorities, donors and government institutions. It will collect and analyse the latest information and pass it on to the relevant government agencies. It will also oversee rescue and relief work including restoration of infrastructure."

Pakistan government and the United Nations jointly launched the "2022 Pakistan Floods Response Plan (FRP)" on Tuesday, simultaneously in Islamabad and Geneva.

The launch event, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be attended by all UN Member States as well as various humanitarian organisations working in the area of disaster relief.

In the meantime, disaster aid is being sent to Pakistan by many. Canada announced aid worth USD 5 million, while China 100 million yuan.

On Monday, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles conveyed their condolences. Prince Charles said, "My wife and I are deeply saddened by the devastation caused by the recent floods in Pakistan. Our hearts go out to all the victims and their loved ones and to the millions of people who have lost property and their livelihoods."

In Pakistan, Sindh province faced most of the onslaught of torrential rains, washing away acres of fertile farmlands. Heavy water flow in the nation's northern rivers is threatening to burst the banks of the Indus river in the province.