Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today vowed to spare no effort until relief and rehabilitation work is completed in the flood-affected areas, as he chaired a federal cabinet meeting in the capital and pledged full cooperation to provincial governments to tackle the disaster, while praising the military for reaching distant locales with aerial support to conduct rescues.

The prime minister underscored the human cost of the calamity, noting more than seven hundred fatalities, including over four hundred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as the downpours and flash floods disrupted communities and infrastructure. He also pressed for an expanded mandate for the climate change ministry, stressing that related departments must participate actively in adaptation and mitigation efforts.

Concerns were raised about man-made drivers of disaster, with the PM pointing to illegal constructions along rivers and tree-cutting in the Galiyat region. He announced an upcoming meeting to address these issues and to reinforce safeguards against preventable catastrophes.

On the diplomatic front, Sharif highlighted the visit of Pakistan’s Chinese counterpart as evidence of a strong, enduring partnership. He described China as an all-weather ally and said bilateral talks in Beijing would accompany his participation in the SCO forum, reflecting ongoing cooperation and shared strategic objectives.

A fateha was observed for those who lost their lives in the recent rains and floods, marking the solemn closure of the session before further measures are undertaken.