Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif made a controversial remark amid devastating floods in Pakistan’s Punjab province. He remarked that floodwaters should be treated as a blessing and should be ‘stored at home’.
Asif, while speaking to a local news channel, stated, “People who have blocked roads and are protesting against the flood-like situation should take the flood waters home. They should store this water at their homes, in tubs, in lakes. We should look at these waters in the form of a blessing and hence should store it.”
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There has been severe rainfall, causing floods in Punjab. ANI quoted ARY News and said that at least 33 people have died and over 2,200 villages have been struck by floods, leading to destruction. More than 700,000 people have been forced to evacuate the region where they lived. Thousands of livestock have been moved to safer locations.
Irfan Ali Kathia, Director General of Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab, stated that the province has been struck by one of the deadliest floods in history. He further added that both the rivers flowing through the province have crossed dangerous levels, and even though the Sutlej River near Kasur have started to recede, the destruction is still at its peak.
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Villagers from flood-hit districts like Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur are migrating to safer locations as waters rise. Rescue and relief teams are working to control the situation.
Meanwhile, Sindh province is also facing the threat of flash floods. Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon reported that more than 1.6 million people across 1,657 villages could be affected. Precautionary measures are underway.
