Cabinet committee reviews flood preparedness ahead of monsoon

Punjab Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet Committee for Disaster Management Khawaja Salman Rafique on Monday chaired a meeting to review preparedness for the monsoon season and possible flood situation across Punjab

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Jun, 2026) Punjab Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet Committee for Disaster Management Khawaja Salman Rafique on Monday chaired a meeting to review preparedness for the monsoon season and possible flood situation across Punjab.

The meeting reviewed in detail the contingency plan, resource availability and response mechanism of the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and other relevant departments, including Rescue 1122. Director General PDMA Umar Javed attended the meeting through video link and briefed participants on the monsoon forecast and preparedness measures.

The meeting also reviewed various PDMA development schemes aimed at mitigating flood risks. These included anti-erosion projects along the Chak Nehra in Narowal, Bein Nala in Shakargarh, the Indus River in Layyah, the Chenab River near Kaliyal village and Marala, and the Jhelum River near Chak Sikandar in Sarai Alamgir to protect agricultural land and nearby settlements.

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Addressing the meeting, Khawaja Salman Rafique said rescue operations were being upgraded on modern lines in line with the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. He said 13 anti-erosion schemes had been completed so far, protecting more than 30,000 people and 12,000 acres of land.

The minister said compensation exceeding Rs 49 billion had been paid to those affected by the 2025 floods. He added that operations against encroachments in riverbeds and floodplains had been carried out, while all district administrations had been directed to complete the cleaning of river channels before the monsoon season.

PDMA DG Umar Javed said pre-disaster and post-disaster response mechanisms were being strengthened, while new PDMA warehouses were being established in Rajanpur, Sargodha and Jhang to enhance emergency response capacity. He said a risk assessment survey of Punjab’s five rivers and hill torrents was also underway.