Flood toll reaches 1,343 in Pakistan

Islamabad, Sep 7: Unprecedented rains and floods have killed nearly 1,350 people in Pakistan as of Wednesday, sources said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for a “sustainable system” to cope with the challenges of climate change, which is seen as the primary reason that triggered the natural havoc in the country.
“The country is grappling with an unprecedented situation, witnessing floods that have resulted in the loss of lives, infrastructure and crops,” Sharif said during his visit to Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province to review the ongoing restoration and rehabilitation work in flood-affected areas.
He said it was time to rise above politics and demonstrate the spirit of service and welfare because trillions of rupees were required for relief and rehabilitation activities.
“It is time that there should be a sustainable system to cope with the challenges of climate change,” the prime minister said.
Announcing an earlier decision to increase the amount set aside for flood relief under the Benazir Income Support Programme, Sharif said under this package, every flood-hit household would be given Rs 25,000. “Besides, Rs 1 million will be given in compensation to the relatives of the deceased.” Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority in its daily report on Wednesday reported 18 flood-related casualties in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll since June 14 to 1,343.
The National Flood Response Coordination Centre (NFRCC) confirmed the tally in a separate statement, saying that 17 people were injured due to flash floods over the past 24 hours, taking the total number of injured reported so far to 12,720.
The NFRCC, which was created last week to coordinate efforts to tackle floods, also said that digital mapping of affected areas would be carried out to prioritise the rehabilitation of communication infrastructure and population.
Pakistani authorities have been struggling to respond to the devastating floods given their unprecedented magnitude. (PTI)