Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to take immediate measures to address potential urban flooding in Lahore, Sialkot and Gujrat, besides continuing its early warning and relief efforts.

Chairing an emergency meeting to review the flood situation in Punjab, the prime minister directed the authorities to enhance the effectiveness of flood and rainfall warnings.

He emphasised the importance of timely information sharing between the NDMA and the PDMA Punjab to minimise losses.

NDMA Chairman Lt-General Inam Haider Malik briefed the prime minister on the river situation, preemptive evacuations, safe relocations, and the delivery of relief supplies in affected areas.

Referring to the provision of tents for affected areas in Punjab, he said, the supply of other essential items will continue.

The prime minister instructed the ministers for communications, energy, the NHA chairman and other officials to reach Lahore to cooperate with the provincial government and ensure uninterrupted power supply, communication channels, and road restoration in the affected areas.

He added that flood-related issues in any province would be resolved through strong coordination, citing the federal government’s recent support to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as an example, and assuring the same for Punjab.

Shehbaz Sharif also directed the authorities to ensure early flood warnings for Sindh, asking the public representatives and government institutions to ensure timely evacuation, safe relocation, and effective monitoring of relief operations.

He further emphasised the protection of human lives, property, crops, and livestock from potential flood damage.

The prime minister said that all issues at the district and tehsil levels should be resolved urgently in collaboration with local and provincial administrations.

The briefing was told that there was a risk of high-level flood at Head Marala and Khanki due to increased water discharge in the Chenab River.

Similarly, increased water pressure was reported in the Ravi River at Jassar and Shahdara, and in the Sutlej River at Ganda Singh Wala and Sulemanki. The situation is also being closely monitored at Khanki, Balloki, and Qadirabad.

The NDMA chairman informed the meeting that Rescue 1122, civil defence, Rangers, PDMA, and other relevant agencies were working with full diligence.

The army personnel and police services have been engaged for preemptive evacuations to mitigate damage in flood-affected areas of Punjab.

The meeting was attended by federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Awais Ahmad Leghari, Dr Musadik Malik, Attaullah Tarar, and Ahad Khan Cheema, NDMA chairman, and relevant government officials.