Pakistan faces biggest loss due to climatic changes in recent history: Ahsan Iqbal

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal has said that Pakistan faces the biggest loss due to climatic changes in the recent history.

Addressing a press conference along with DG ISPR Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar and NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Akhtar Nawaz after a meeting of the National Flood Response and Coordination Centre on Saturday, he said that over 500 percent increase in rains is a climatic tragedy.

He said that the government alone could do nothing. "We will have to jointly participate in the flood relief. We should start the reconstruction of the country after becoming a nation," he maintained.

NDMA chairman Lt Gen Akhtar Nawaz said that the rescue and relief operation is going on simultaneously. "The national emergency of the flood has been declared. Out of 881 feeders, 758 have been restored. We are facing problems in disposal of water from the plain areas. We will soon come out of this calamity," he added.

DG ISPR Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar said that the Army jawans helped the affectees by putting their lives at stake.

"During the relief operation, six officers embraced martyrdom in the helicopter crash. The Pak Army has so far provided relief to 50,000 people so far. 276 helicopters are being used in the relief activities. Up to 1,783 tons of ration has been distributed so far," he maintained.

National Flood Response and Coordination Centre Coordinator Maj Gen Zafar Iqbal said that they are striving to provide a relief in each affected area. He urged the philanthropists not to restrict themselves to a specific area.