Upholding its tradition of serving the nation in times of crisis, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has stepped in to support ongoing flood relief operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, airlifting 48 tons of relief supplies from Karachi to Peshawar.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the consignment, arranged by a non-governmental organisation, was flown aboard an Air Eagle B-737 aircraft to ensure rapid delivery. The supplies, comprising mainly dry rations, will be distributed among affected families in Buner and Shangla districts in coordination with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
The ISPR said that by establishing an air bridge, PAF has ensured the swift transportation of urgently required aid, reflecting its enduring commitment to stand with the nation not only in defending the skies but also in providing timely humanitarian assistance.
Meanwhile, the NDMA has issued fresh alerts for Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir after the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast another spell of heavy rainfall from Monday, raising risks of urban flooding, flash floods, and landslides. Cities including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Muzaffarabad, and Skardu have been placed on high alert.
The NDMA further cautioned that three severe monsoon spells are expected in the coming weeks, with rainfall intensity projected to be 50% higher than earlier downpours, heightening the risk of urban inundation, especially in Lahore and Rawalpindi.
Since the start of monsoon rains on June 26, at least 657 people have lost their lives nationwide, with 929 others injured, the NDMA confirmed. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been hardest hit with 390 fatalities, followed by Punjab (164 deaths), Sindh (28), Balochistan (20), Gilgit-Baltistan (32), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (15), and Islamabad (8). Among the victims are 171 children and 94 women.
The federal and provincial governments have pledged to scale up relief operations as weather conditions threaten further devastation.
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