PM Shehbaz arrives in Quetta to oversee relief operations in flood-ravaged Balochistan - Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reached Quetta on a day-long visit on Monday to oversee relief operations in the flood-affected areas of Balochistan, which has been ravaged by rain-induced floods in recent days. The prime minister was accompanied by Defence Production Minister Israr Tareen, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Housing and Works Minister Maulana Abdul Wasay, Narcotics Control Minister Shahzain Bugti, Minister of State for Energy Mohammad Hashim Notezai, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal MNA Salahuddin Ayubi and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt Gen Akhtar Nawaz. During their flight to Quetta, the NDMA chairman briefed the premier on relief and rescue activities under way in Balochistan.

The prime minister will be given a detailed briefing on the situation after landing in the provincial capital. He will also visit relief camps set up in Khushnoob area of Qila Saifullah district and speak to media persons on the occasion. The premier is also expected to visit flood-affected areas in Chaman.

Rains, floods wreak havoc in Balochistan

The prime minister's visit comes as torrential rains and flash floods wreaked havoc in Balochistan, as well as the rest of the country. On Sunday, at least two people lost their lives in rain-related incidents in Balochistan, taking the death toll in the province to 130. However, the situation slightly improved in the province's Lasbela district, which has faced the worst flooding so far, a Dawn report said. Subsequently, traffic on the Quetta-Karachi highway was restored after almost a week. The highway was badly damaged after collapse of three bridges earlier this month. Meanwhile, officials said over 20 people were pulled to safety by the administration in the Oraki area of Lasbela district, with the assistance from the Pakistan Army and the Navy. Separately, two bodies were recovered from floodwaters near Noshki and Zhob, they added. The deceased included a man missing man who was swept by floods two days ago and a child. A large number of house collapses were reported due to heavy rains in Zhob district, rendering families homeless while the flood situation in the Awaran area worsened as the entire district remained cut off from other parts of the province for four days due to the collapse of bridges and washing away of roads. Meanwhile, a large number of flood victims blocked the RCD Highway, which connects Quetta and Karachi, in Ahmedwall to protest the attitude of the administration. The protesters shouted slogans demanding relief and rehabilitation assistance. They complained that no one from the district administration or public representatives visited their disaster-struck area.

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