Pakistan flash floods - PCB to donate gate receipts from first England T20I to PM's Flood Relief Fund

The PCB will donate gate receipts from Pakistan's first T20I against England, in Karachi on September 20, to flood-relief efforts to help the country deal with the catastrophic situation that has caused over 1000 deaths.

The floods were caused by the highest rainfall in the country in more than three decades, an occurrence described by Sherry Rehman, the minister for climate change, as a "climate catastrophe". Over 33 million people in the country have been affected and, according to some estimates, the flooding has caused over $10 billion worth of damage.

Ramiz Raja, the PCB chairman, said in a statement, "As cricket unites our proud nation, we stand firmly with the victims and all those involved in​ the flood relief and rescue operations. As a responsible and caring organisation, the PCB has always stood with its fans and public in tough, challenging and testing times. In this regard, we have decided to donate gate proceeds from the first T20I against England ​next month to the Prime Minister's Flood Relief Fund.

"I encourage all spectators to participate in this initiative by purchasing tickets for the first T20I and turning up in big numbers so that we as a cricket family can donate ​a substantial amount to the fund and show solidarity with those affected by the catastrophe."

"We have already sent trucks full of food, medicines and other commodities to the affected areas and will continue to support our ​nation and rescue operational teams in any way we can," Ramiz said. "Our thoughts and prayers remain with the people of Pakistan."

After the Asia Cup, Pakistan will host England upon their return home for a series of seven T20Is. It will be England's first tour of Pakistan in 17 years and the matches will be held in Karachi (the first four) and Lahore (the remaining three). After the series, the teams will travel to Australia for the T20 World Cup, and England will then return to Pakistan for a three-Test series, to be played in Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi in December.

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Relief efforts pick up pace after floods submerge third of Pakistan

Massive floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains have swamped a third of the country, killing more than 1,100 people and affecting tens of millions more.

More than two million people had been displaced by the floods. (AFP)

Makeshift camps have sprung up all over Pakistan – in schools, along motorways and at military bases – to give shelter to millions of displaced flood victims. Pakistan needs more than $10 billion to repair and rebuild infrastructure, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Tuesday. "Massive damage has been caused to infrastructure – especially in the areas of telecommunications, roads, agriculture and livelihoods," he told AFP news agency. Floods have swamped a third of the country, killing more than 1,100 people and affecting tens of millions more. In the northwestern town of Nowshera, a technical college was turned into a shelter for up to 2,500 flood victims, who sweltered in the summer heat with sporadic food aid and little access to water for bathing. "We have been only eating rice for the past three days," 60-year-old Malang Jan told AFP. "I never thought that one day we will have to live like this. We have lost our heaven and are now forced to live a miserable life." Jan's family were rescued by boat when his home was submerged in the floods. READ MORE: Flood victims share tales of horror as rains wreak havoc across Pakistan

A third of Pakistan is under water as a result of flooding caused by record monsoon rains. (AFP)

'A situation of panic' The college gardens are lined with tents – the classrooms are filled with the families who arrived first and grabbed the chance for privacy. Others rest shoulder-to-shoulder in corridors with their meagre bundles of belongings. Goats and chickens salvaged from the rising water graze in the campus courtyard. The camp of 2,500 is managed by various charities, political parties and administrative officials overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster. Volunteers hand out tents, mattresses, water, daal and naan. "It's a situation of panic," said Mushfiq ur Rehman, a district court official who stepped in to oversee food delivery for the local administration. "There is enough food, but people are getting desperate because they don't trust if they will get a meal again or not." [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-Fn9ynxPfY[/embed] 'We're humiliated' It is particularly difficult for women in this deeply conservative region of the country, where the all-covering burqa is commonly worn, and women rarely mix with men who are not relatives. "We are Pashtun people; we don't come out of our homes often, but now we are forced to come out," said Yasmin Shah, 56, who is sheltered in a classroom with her family. Young women with burqas pulled up over their heads watch from upper floors. "I cannot come out of this classroom unless I have to," added another, looking after a blind uncle. Older women take their place in queues to ensure they get a share of food handouts. The heat is worsened when the few working fans stop working because of power cuts. There are no showers and only a few toilets available for the displaced.

The death toll from monsoon flooding in Pakistan since June has crossed 1,100. (AFP)

"Our self respect is at stake... I stink but there is no place to take a shower," said Fazal e Malik, who is staying with seven family members in a tent. "Our women are also facing problems and they too feel humiliated." When food aid arrives at the college, desperate families mob the trucks, and are sometimes pushed back by police armed with long sticks. "People send relief goods here but the distribution is not well organised at all," Yasmin said. "There are routine scuffles and people have to fight to get some food. In the end, some people have a bigger share and others have nothing."

Experts fear a widespread migration within Pakistan due to the destruction of agricultural lands and businesses by the latest floods. (AFP)

The largest camp in the town was set up at the Pakistan Air Force academy centre, sheltering a further 3,000 people in the accommodation usually reserved for training staff. Nearby, armed members of a local political party have stepped in to protect abandoned homes, using rowing boats to navigate the flooded streets and watch for looters. For some fleeing the deluge across the country, the only dry areas are elevated roads and railroad tracks, alongside which tens of thousands of poor rural folk have taken shelter with their livestock. READ MORE: Türkiye sends two planes carrying aid for Pakistan flood victims Source: AFP

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NDMA continues relief activities in Balochistan flood-hit areas

ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) continued its relief operation in flood-hit areas of Balochistan as it has sent more relief goods for the affectees on Sunday. 

According to details, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is continuing to provide emergency aid to the flood victims, most of the relief goods have been delivered to the affected areas of Balochistan.

The spokesperson of NDMA says that ration bags have been provided to 39 thousand people, tents have been delivered to more than 45,000 victims, six thousand tarpaulins, seven thousand mosquito nets and more than three thousand blankets have been provided to the Balochistan flood-hit areas.

According to NDMA, 55 d watering pumps and 50 generators were also sent, other relief items include kitchen sets, hygiene kits and chemical spray machines.

The fresh shipment sent today includes tarpaulins, blankets, mosquito nets, 200 school tents and 35 generators and 30 watering pumps for 60,000 people.

Read more: Death toll from Balochistan downpours mounts to188

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PM Shehbaz Sharif sets up flood relief fund, asks people to donate

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has setup a flood relief fund for those affected from heavy rainfall and floods in the country and asked philanthropists and general public to donate for the cause, ARY NEWS reported.

The prime minister said that above normal rainfall has led to a disaster in Balochistan while losses were witnessed in Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces.

“Despite tough economic conditions, the government has released Rs5 billion for the flood affectees,” he said and asked philanthropists to come forward and help government in rebuilding the structures of those affected in the disaster.

PM Shehbaz Sharif also directed the provincial governments to declare the affected areas as calamity-hit so that relief work could be expedited in those areas.

The funds for the flood affectees could be transferred to account number G-12164 of Prime Minister Relief Fund 2022.

It is pertinent to mention here that the prime minister has already announced to impose emergency in areas hit by severe monsoon rains and floods, and ordered the finance ministry to issue Rs 5 billion to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)for rescue and relief programs.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s House, a state of emergency has been imposed in areas severely hit by floods and rains.

Additionally, the PM has ordered to form a joint committee of NDMA and PDMA to commence rescue and rehabilitation programs for the flood-affected people.

The PM said ordered the Finance Ministry to issue Rs 5 billion for the rescue and relief programs, saying the programs are their utmost priority. We will have to think about the people in distress over our political conflicts, the PM added.

The committee formed by PM includes Ahsan Iqbal, Asad Mehmood, Abdul Wasay, Murtaza Javed, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Chairman NDMA and Secretary communications. The committee would hold its inaugural session today and formulate a coordination policy.

The PM added that they need to formulate a short-term and a long-term strategy to overcome the situation. The provincial government have been ordered to submit reports to the federal government by the PM.

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Punjab CM orders to accelerate relief activities for flood affectees

`LAHORE: Punjab chief minister (CM) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Friday has ordered to accelerate relief and rescue activities to provide relief to the flood and rain affectees in the province. 

In his statement Punjab CM Pervaiz Elahi directed the administration to take every possible step to provide relief to the flood affectees and ensure provision of food and other basic facilities.

He also directed the administration to become active in the flood and rain-hit areas.

Earlier, the ISPR also said that troops were assisting the civil administration in relief efforts in Dera Ghazi Khan due to “flash flooding/ hill torrents”.

Read more: PM Shehbaz Sharif increases compensation for rain, flood affectees

Two medical camps have been established by the army to provide medical care to the locals affected by the floods, it said.

Six villagers lost their lives when violent currents of a hill torrent brea­ched a protection dyke in Dera Ghazi Khan late on Tue­sday night.

According to villagers living near the protection dyke, they were caught unawares as the administration did not issue any warning about the torrents coming from the Soori Lund hill. Floodwaters also affected wheat stocks of the food department.

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