Punjab Floods: Army Chief Reviews Operations as Millions Displaced, 97 Lives Lost

Field Marshal Asim Munir Visits Flood-Hit Punjab; Government and Army Step Up Relief Efforts

Multan/Bahawalpur/Kasur(Ali Imran Chattha Nazrana Times)

 Widespread flooding continues to wreak havoc across Punjab as swollen rivers and heavy monsoon rains have inundated vast stretches of land. The worst-affected districts include Multan, Bahawalpur, Kasur, and Jalalpur Pirwala, while surging waters at Head Panjnad have reached extremely high levels, threatening further devastation downstream.

Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, visited the flood-hit areas on Saturday to review the situation and ongoing relief operations. According to ISPR, he conducted an aerial reconnaissance of Kasur sector and flood-affected localities in Multan, and also inspected relief camps in Jalalpur Pirwala. The Army Chief was accompanied by Punjab’s Chief Secretary and senior civil officials, who briefed him on rescue and relief operations.

Field Marshal Munir stressed the importance of close coordination between civil administration and the military, underscoring that the state “cannot afford repeated losses of lives and property every year.” He directed that rehabilitation of infrastructure be expedited and emphasized good governance and people-centric development as long-term solutions to recurring disasters. He also reaffirmed the Pakistan Army’s commitment to stand by the people in every possible way.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Jalalpur Pirwala and Alipur tehsils is worsening. Nearly 700,000 residents of Jalalpur Pirwala are affected, with most union councils submerged. Entire villages are cut off, potable water is scarce due to power outages disabling filtration plants, and stranded families are in urgent need of food and medical care. Reports indicate private boat operators overcharging evacuees, forcing the government to deploy more official rescue boats and helicopters to expedite evacuations.

At Head Panjnad, flood discharges have crossed 600,000 cusecs, overwhelming embankments and putting downstream communities at risk. Dozens of villages in Bahawalpur and Kasur are already under water, with crops, livestock, and homes destroyed. The Punjab government has reinforced embankments around Jalalpur Pirwala and announced financial compensation: Rs1 million for families of the deceased, Rs1 million for completely destroyed houses, Rs0.5 million for partially damaged houses, and separate payments for livestock losses.

So far, floods across Punjab have claimed at least 97 lives and displaced more than 2.4 million people, while the total number of affected individuals exceeds 4.4 million. Relief camps house tens of thousands, but conditions remain overcrowded, and resources are stretched. Health camps have been set up, treating thousands of patients, while Rescue 1122, PDMA, and army units continue round-the-clock operations.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned of more heavy rainfall in southern and southeastern Punjab over the next 48 hours, raising fears that water levels could rise again in already inundated districts. Authorities remain on high alert as floodwaters from the Chenab, Sutlej, and Ravi converge toward lower Punjab, with potential spillover into Sindh.

Despite the destruction, Field Marshal Asim Munir’s visit has bolstered relief efforts on the ground, with renewed directives for accelerated action and stronger civil-military coordination. Yet for the millions displaced, the road to recovery remains long and uncertain.