Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that the federal cabinet will declare a climate emergency and an agriculture emergency after consultations today, in light of the severe human and economic losses caused by recent floods.

Chairing a cabinet meeting in Islamabad, the Prime Minister informed that a special committee, led by Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, is being established to address the challenges arising from the flood disaster. An apex-level meeting, to be attended by all four chief ministers, will also be held to formulate a comprehensive strategy.

Highlighting the scale of devastation, Shehbaz Sharif noted that nearly one thousand people have lost their lives while thousands more sustained injuries. He said damage assessment to crops is already underway, as the floods have destroyed vast areas of agricultural land.

The Prime Minister stressed that the federal government is contributing its share, but provincial governments must also step forward to provide support.

Referring to his recent visit to China, Shehbaz Sharif said the business conference in Beijing proved highly productive, resulting in joint ventures and MoUs worth $8.5 billion. He added that Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal will travel to China on September 26 to formally launch CPEC 2.0, which will expand cooperation in agriculture, minerals, business-to-business investments, and special economic zones. He further disclosed that China will bear 85 percent of the investment cost for the Karakoram Highway project.

The Prime Minister also pointed out that Pakistan signed an MoU with the United States for investment in the mining and minerals sector. He underlined that Pakistan will strengthen ties with the US while giving fresh momentum to its strategic partnership with China.

Paying tribute to the armed forces, Shehbaz Sharif lauded their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, calling the martyrs the pride of the nation. He condemned campaigns against the military and its leadership, urging collective responsibility to counter such propaganda.