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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province is likely to receive monsoon showers till Sept. 9, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) director-general said on Sunday, as the death toll from floods since late August surged to 56. 

Heavy monsoon rains and excess water released by Indian dams have caused Punjab’s rivers to swell, triggering floods in the province since late August, killing around 56.

Punjab is also home to half of the country’s 240 million people and accounts for much of its wheat and rice production, creating food security concerns as initial estimates suggest 1.3 million acres of agricultural land have been inundated in the province amid the flooding of the three rivers. Nationwide, the NDMA said 905 people have been killed in rain and flood-related incidents since the monsoon began on June 26.

“The 10th monsoon spell will continue until Sept. 9,” DG PDMA Irfan Ali Kathia told reporters during a news conference. 

Kathia, however, added that the situation of rising water levels in Punjab’s rivers had “improved,” adding that the Sutlej river was recorded at a “stable” level in many areas. 

He said river Ravi at Jassar was recorded at 65,000 cusecs while at Shahdara it was recorded at over 98,000 cusecs. He said the water level at Balloki was recorded at 152,000 cusecs while the water level at Head Sidhnai was recorded at over 91,000 cusecs. 

Kathia said at river Chenab, the second wave of flood water is heading toward Trimmu Headworks and is attaining its peak and has been recorded at 543,000 cusecs. 

He said the water level from Trimmu Headworks is expected to pass through the Head Muhammad Wala, which can cause flooding in Multan. 

Giving a breakdown of the relief activities, Kathia said over four million people have been impacted. 

He said around 4,100 villages and areas in Punjab have been affected while over 4 million people have been affected. He said over 400 temporary relief camps were set up, but some of them were being winded up as rehabilitation of the masses begins.

He said around 60,000-70,000 people are staying in these relief camps round the clock. 

“Around 500 medical camps have served approximately 175,000 individuals,” Kathia said. “Rescue operations in Multan, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur continue vigorously.”

He said a total of over 20,73,048 people have been rescued while 1,522,452 animals have been shifted to safer locations. 

POWER OUTAGES

Floods in Pakistan’s most populous province have triggered power outages and left many without electricity.

As per a report shared by the Power Division, out of 513 feeders affected by the floods, 254 have been fully restored and 253 have been temporarily restored.

The Power Division said that out of a total of 1,641,859 affected consumers, electricity has been restored for 1,361,641.

“For the remaining 276,745 consumers, electricity restoration remains a priority,” the Power Division said.

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has granted a special remission of 180 days in sentences for prisoners on the occasion of Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) 1500th birth anniversary, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday. 

Pakistani leaders traditionally announce sentence remissions for prisoners on religious festivals and other special occasions like the two Eid festivals, Independence Day and Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birth anniversary. The remissions are intended as goodwill gestures to promote rehabilitation and allow selected inmates to reunite with their families during important national and religious holidays.

“After due consultation, and in a spirit of mercy and compassion, the Prime Minister concurred with the President’s proposal to enhance this remission to one hundred and eighty days,” the state media said. 

Pakistan marked the 1500th birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on Saturday with religious fervor. Zardari granted the remission in sentences on the advice of the prime minister and the federal cabinet, who had originally recommended a 100-day remission, Radio Pakistan said. 

Radio Pakistan clarified that the special remission would apply to prisoners meeting the prescribed criteria under the law, while those convicted of serious crimes such as murder, “terrorism,” espionage and major financial offenses will remain excluded from it.