Major Installations Protected, Residents Shifted to Safe Locations: Azma Bukhari Briefs on Punjab Flood Situation

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari gave an update on the provincial government’s flood response, highlighting measures being taken to safeguard lives and infrastructure.

She said that major installations were being protected by breaching embankments where necessary, and residents were shifted to safe locations before the breaches were carried out. Livestock had also been moved to safety, and all emergency equipment was available to deal with the situation.

Bukhari noted that around 250,000 cusecs of water is expected to pass through Ravi at Shahdara, while at Head Qadirabad, the capacity of 900,000 cusecs was exceeded as 950,000 cusecs of water flowed through. She added that the water level at Head Qadirabad had now begun to recede.

Speaking on the conditions in affected areas, the minister acknowledged that living in relief camps is not easy. She also expressed concern over people standing on embankments to watch the flood and warned that children bathing in floodwater is not acceptable.

Addressing misinformation, Bukhari said that a fake video had been shared online showing a wall collapse in Sialkot. She confirmed that the MD WASA Sialkot had been suspended, assuring that drainage in Sialkot would improve within hours.

She further reported that a family’s evacuation attempt in Sialkot had met with an accident.

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