ISLAMABAD: Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman urged political parties to keep politics aside and focus on people affected by floods stemming from relentless rains.

“Recent floods in the country were the biggest tragedy after 1971 when the country lost its eastern part,” the minister said adding that the recent floods in Pakistan were record-breaking in the world.

“There is no environment of business as usual in the country.”

She said 33 million people were affected due to the devastating floods and 20 million people still had no availability of basic necessities.

The minister said that during the recent monsoon 700 percent more rains were recorded in Sindh and 600 percent more rains were recorded in Balochistan.

She said World Bank had estimated an impact of 40 billion US dollar on Pakistan due to the devastation of recent floods.

Senator Sherry said that 13,000 kilometer of roads and 36 bridges were completely destroyed which needed to be restored on urgent basis for connectivity.

She criticized the opposition for carrying out public rallies and doing politics at the time when country needed unity the most.

“You should be ashamed, when the countrymen are suffering, you are taking oath from your followers like Hitler for staging protest and long march,” the minister said.