Pakistan says flood relief operations to continue until all missing are recovered

Pakistani officials said on Tuesday that flood rescue and relief operations would continue “until every missing person is recovered,” as the country reels from deadly flash floods triggered by torrential monsoon rains and glacier melt in its northern regions.

The monsoon rains have already claimed at least 670 lives nationwide and left over 1,000 injured, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) the worst hit. Officials said more than 350 people have died in KP in just five days, including over 220 fatalities in Buner district alone.

Senior representatives of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the military, and the government addressed a joint press conference to outline the rescue efforts and ongoing challenges.

NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider said the first spell of this year’s monsoon battered Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and KP, with flash floods and glacier melt causing widespread devastation.

“There is a threat of hill torrents and urban inundation due to cloudbursts. As we shared yesterday, 670 lives have been lost and 1,000 people injured. Rescue efforts will continue until all missing persons are recovered,” he said, adding that 25,000 people have been rescued in the past three days.

The NDMA chief said Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir is personally monitoring operations and has ordered them to be expedited. He warned that the seventh spell of the monsoon will continue until August 23, with the next spell expected to affect northern Punjab, lower KP, and GB.

He said that the prime minister has approved ration bags for cloudburst-affected areas, including Bajaur, Swabi, Buner, and Malakand, with a third convoy leaving for Mansehra and surrounding areas. “We hope in the coming days to integrate NGOs into this response,” he said.

NDMA chief Lt Gen Inam Haider and DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif brief joint presser on flood rescue efforts. Nukta

The NDMA is also reopening highways blocked by landslides with the help of the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO). “Over 50% of blocked routes have been cleared. By September 10-12, we will complete the survey of losses and rescue efforts and share it with the authorities for approval,” the chairman said.

‘Thousands rescued, bridges and roads restored’

Military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry detailed the army’s relief operations.

“In KP, eight units of Infantry and FC are directly involved in search and flood relief operations, while one unit is engaged in GB, making a total of nine units. One Engineer Brigade and two Engineer Battalions each in KP and GB are deployed for road clearance,” he said.

The army has so far rescued 6,903 people, set up nine medical camps in KP, and distributed one-day ration packs under the army chief’s directives. Medical teams have also been dispatched from CMH Rawalpindi, while new medical camps are being established in Buner and Shangla to operate round the clock.

He said 90 roads were damaged in KP; nine have been fully restored, while 86 have been partially reopened. Work is also underway on Jarr Bridge, a critical link between Timergara and Khar through Bajaur, with 40% completed so far.

The DG ISPR added that the army has established major supply bases in Peshawar and Nowshera, while additional battalions have been moved to Mansehra and Battagram for ration distribution. The Karakoram Highway, blocked at eight spots, has now been cleared, while the Air Force has been “doing a great job” dispatching rations and goods to northern areas.

Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said the electricity system in KP was severely affected, but “around 70% of power has been restored in the last 48 hours.” He said the prime minister has directed the power minister to remain in Swat until 100% restoration is achieved.

Tarar emphasized that the response is national in scope, with all institutions working together. “More convoys will leave for affected areas, and 40 tons of ration bags have already been sent,” he said.

Army personnel clear debris near damaged homes after flash floods in Buner, KP, August 17, 2025.AFP

He warned that Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is also expected to face heavy rains in the coming days and said its government has been alerted.

“This is a national effort. The army chief has a special focus on it, the Prime Minister has urged unity, and we ask the nation to play its role and pray for improvement. We will overcome this disaster through concerted efforts,” he added.

Pakistan is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries. In 2022, catastrophic monsoon floods submerged one-third of the country, killing around 1,700 people and displacing millions. Officials say the latest floods are another stark reminder of the country’s growing exposure to extreme weather events.