Pakistan’s nerve centre for coordination efforts for relief activities has urged 2/3 of the country’s people, which were unaffected by the floods triggered by heavy rains, to send financial and food support to the flood victims.

“This is not a time to sit. This is the time to get up for the 1/3 of Pakistanis and help flood victims,” Ahsan Iqbal, the planning minister, said while addressing a press conference after the meeting of the National Flood Response Coordination Centre (NFRCC) in Islamabad. “It will be a great service to Pakistan.”

Floods have affected more than 33 million people and killed over 1,500 people. Pakistan has urged international donors to assist it amid the devastating situation as the country was “bearing the brunt” of the developed countries who were contributing to the carbon emissions. United Nations Secretary General in his visit to Pakistan had said the country needed “massive support”.

He appealed to the Ulemas to urge the people in Friday sermons to encourage them for sending financial support to the flood victims.

Iqbal exhorted the medical professionals to assist the government in view of the impending health crisis.

What’s next?

The NFRCC has would ask all vice chancellors of universities to task all students, around 2.5 million, to make nutrition packs for mothers and children. The government aims to raise at least two million packs at the earliest. It would release the details via social media.

Moreover, it would start a sister district programme under the adopt district programme in which the big districts, which have ample resources, in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be connected with the devastated districts for their rehabilitation. All the administrative resources will be diverted to them for one month.

How much relief has so far Pakistan received?

As many as 114 flights arrived in Pakistan from 20 countries – out of which the NDMA received 66 and other organisations got 48. The NFRCC added that 13 more flights were planned in 10 days. Below is the list:

• 13 flights came from Turkiye, UAE 30, China 5, Oman 4, Qatar 3, and one each from others
• 16,938 tents
• 3,000 tarpaulin
• 37,000 blankets
• 11,000 food packs
• 182 tons of dry ration
• 30 tons of medicines
• 58 ships
• Two trains from Turkiye reached Dalbandin while six more are on the way
• A convoy of 86 trucks reached Pakistan on September 19 via Torkham
• Doctors team from Turkiye, Qatar and Palestine have arrived
• Denmark sent a water purification plant which is now in Sindh
• Small 75 dewatering plants arrived here from France
• Oman’s ship arrived in Pakistan on September 19
• Two million packs are needed for infants and mothers

The federal government following “transparency and data” has sent 50% to 60% of relief items to Sindh. Following this, Balochistan was getting 15% to 20% items and the rest of the products were being given to Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit Baltistan.

Such items were delivered to the Pakistan Army after Customs clearance and then sent to areas.

What is desperately needed?

• Tents
• Food
• Food for children under the age of five
• Medicines
• Health services
• Vaccines
• Field hospitals
• Blankets, warm clothes, quilts as winter season would come next

The NFRCC urged people here and expatriates to send relief items.

‘Efforts under way’ to reach people

Major General Zafar Iqbal, the NFRCC coordinator, said that efforts were under way to reach all the flood affected areas. He added that more time is needed for road restoration and pulls construction.

The railway was running on the ML-I. Around 8ft to 10ft water was standing at two points of the track. He added that the passenger track would soon revive.

“Pakistan has enough stocks of wheat. This year we have seven million tons of wheat and another one million tons were reaching,” the coordinator said and ruled out any shortage of the staple crop.

Sindh was facing very less losses, adding that the government would take action against hoarders. Water drainage was under way for wheat farming in Sindh by October.

“We are facing a little shortage of wheat and it will be overcome as we start farming.”