PM Shehbaz urges construction of new dams as Punjab grapples with severe floods

NAROWAL (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that climate change is a major challenge and emphasised the urgent need to build new dams without wasting time.

Addressing a meeting in Narowal, he stated that after Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab is now facing floods, with floodwaters flowing through the province’s rivers.

He appreciated the role of NDMA, Rescue 1122, and other agencies in relief efforts and expressed sorrow over the loss of lives due to the floods.

He added that the efforts of federal ministers, Narowal’s political leadership, civil administration, and the Pakistan Armed Forces are commendable. The effective early warning system helped minimise damage, he noted, and said Pakistan is among the countries most affected by climate change.

The prime minister emphasised that in the coming years, the challenges of climate change must be addressed, and rescue and disaster management agencies need to be more proactive.

“We must prepare without delay. We have the capacity to build several new small dams, increase water storage capacity, and utilize our resources effectively. If the federal and provincial governments work together, solutions can be found,” he said.

He recalled the 2022 disaster, which primarily affected Sindh and Balochistan, destroying millions of acres of cultivated crops.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected areas to assess the situation.

NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider briefed the Prime Minister, reporting unusual conditions in the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers. Severe flooding was occurring at Qadirabad and Khanki Barrages on the Chenab, potentially affecting Gujrat, Hafizabad, Pindi Bhattian, Sargodha, Mandi Bahauddin, Chiniot, and Jhang.

He added that the flood surge from the Ravi River could potentially impact Shahdara and Narowal.

22 DEAD AS FLOOD SITUATION WORSENS IN PUNJAB 

Rivers Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej have caused widespread devastation in Punjab after India released water due to heavy monsoon rainfalls killing 22 people with several missing.

At many places, rivers burst their banks on Thursday and water entered populated areas, including urban areas, and sweeping away standing crops on millions of acres of agricultural land. More than 600,000 people have been affected, hundreds of villages are underwater, and the extent of damage to infrastructure will only be known once the water recedes.

WATER RISING AT SHAHDARA

Continuous rise in water levels in the Ravi River at Shahdara has resulted in a high-level flood, with the water flow reaching over 220,000 cusecs.

Meanwhile, Lahore commissioner stated that the situation in the Ravi River was under control. The river has a capacity of 250,000 cusecs. All departments, including the district administration, are fully prepared and remain on high alert.

دریائے راوی شاہدرہ کے مقام پر اونچے درجے کا سیلاب، پانی کی سطح میں مسلسل اضافہ — شہری احتیاطی تدابیر اختیار کریں اور ضلعی انتظامیہ کے ساتھ تعاون کریں۔ #PDMAPunjab #FloodAlert #RaviRiver #MaryamNawaz #Punjab #StaySafe #DisasterManagement #EmergencyPreparedness #Monsoon2025 pic.twitter.com/jGCiWCsyCV

— PDMA Punjab Official (@PdmapunjabO) August 28, 2025

At Jassar, the intensity of the flood has begun to decrease, with the water flow now reduced to 152,000 cusecs.

WATER LEVEL FALLS AT HEAD QADIRABAD

The Punjab PDMA (Provincial Disaster Management Authority), in the meantime, reported that water pressure in the Chenab River at Head Qadirabad is easing. Compared to yesterday, the water flow at the headworks has decreased by 100,000 cusecs.

Head Qadirabad has a capacity of 800,000 cusecs, which means the situation remains critical despite some improvement. Efforts are underway to further reinforce the left embankment of the headworks.

Teams from the district administration, Punjab Irrigation Department, Police, and other agencies are present on-site.

At the Head Khanki point in the Chenab River, water flow has also started to decrease, but the situation remains dangerous. The flow has reduced from 1.05 million cusecs to 859,000 cusecs.

In the Sutlej River, at Ganda Singh Wala, the water flow exceeds 261,000 cusecs, indicating an exceptional flood situation. At Head Marala, there is a high-level flood, with the water flow reaching 191,000 cusecs. 

In the Ravi River at Balloki and Sutlej River at Sulemanki, moderate-level floods persisted.

دریائے ستلج (فیروزپور بیلو) میں انتہائی اونچے درجے کا سیلاب — ضلعی انتظامیہ کو ہائی الرٹ، اور متاثرہ عوام و مویشیوں کے تحفظ کے فوری اقدامات کی ہدایت۔#PDMAPunjab #FloodAlert #SatlujRiver #Punjab #StaySafe #DisasterManagement #EmergencyPreparedness #Monsoon2025 pic.twitter.com/or8Cv9xByl

— PDMA Punjab Official (@PdmapunjabO) August 28, 2025

In Narowal, many villages have been submerged due to flooding with standing crops on thousands of acres have been destroyed. The Shakargarh–Narowal road is now underwater. In Qila Ahmadabad, the railway track was hit by floodwaters, suspending train services.

At Kot Naina in Shakargarh, the Ravi River is in extremely high flood. Multiple villages have been submerged and several bridges have been swept away.

NARANG MANDI

The Ravi River has caused devastation in Narang Mandi. Thousands of acres of agricultural land and several villages have been submerged. Road connection of many villages and settlements with the rest of the country has been cut off.

People in the areas of Kajjla, Jajugal, Merowal, Burj, Long Wala, Pasyanwala, and Mandiali have been relocating their livestock to safer areas on their own, as no government agency has come to their rescue.

SHARAQPUR SHARIF

THE Rave River burst its bank near Sharaqpur and passing through the forest reached the protective embankment. This is the first time since 1988 that the water has reached the embankment. A high flood wave of 155,000 cusecs from Shahdara is expected to reach Sharaqpur by 11 am.

To deal with this severe situation, **Rescue 1122, the district administration, police, and army units have been mobilized.

ARIFWALA

Arifwala is also facing an increased threat of a very high-level flood. Several nearby villages in Dilawar, Noora Rath, and Tibi Lal Baig have been evacuated. The district administration has accelerated emergency evacuation efforts.

SAHIWAL

In areas near Sahiwal, flood water reached the main GT Road and other key locations, posing a threat to infrastructure.

FATALITIES

According to reports, five members a family lost their lives in Sialkot, Four people dies in Gujrat, three in Narowal, Two in Hafizabad and one in Gujranwala city due to floods.

In Shehbazpur, area of Gujrat, the embankment of the Chenab River broke as a result of which three children were swept away by the water. The bodies of two children have been recovered, while one was rescued alive.

In Sialkot’s Sambarial, three people have gone missing due to flooding.

WATER ENTERS WAZIRABAD

The flood situation in Wazirabad has become extremely critical as Nala Palkhu overflowed, with a very high-level flood torrent passing through.

Large parts of the city are submerged, with many areas along Wazirabad and Daska Road under water. A high-level flood has hit both the Chenab River and Nala Palkhu. Railway operations have been suspended, while the Divisional Superintendent (DS) Railway and senior officials visited Wazirabad Junction to review the flood situation.

An alternative route has been adopted for railway operations. All trains bound for Narowal and Sialkot have been stopped, and both Narowal and Sialkot stations have been completely closed for passengers.

SIALKOT

In Sialkot, all government and private educational institutions will remain closed today. An official notification regarding closure has also been issued. To protect more than 26 villages of Chiniot, a decision has been made to cut the Lahore Road embankment.

Explosives have been planted near Harsa Sheikh on the embankment, which will be detonated in case of a high alert.

In Gujranwala, residents have relocated to safer place on self-help basis without government assistance.

In Sajada village of Hafizabad, a bridge was swept away cutting off access to main road.

In Muzaffargarh, several villages have been submerged. A major flood wave is expected to pass through the area in the next two to three days.

BAHAWALNAGAR AND VEHARI

In Bahawalnagar, cotton and rice crops have been damaged, and several connecting roads have been swept away. In Mailsi, Vehari, a breach in a protective embankment has led to flooding in multiple villages and farmlands.

FLOODING IN MULTAN

Flood water of Sutlej River entered many villages in Multan and Jalalpur Pirwala. Rescue operations have been going on.

PUNJAB RELIEF COMMISSIONER’S STATEMENT

Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed has directed commissioners and deputy commissioners to remain in the field. He stated that the PDMA is ensuring continuous coordination across the province, and that deputy commissioners and other officials must stay on the ground.

He emphasized that evacuation from flood-affected areas must be carried out as quickly as possible, stating that the protection of lives and property is the top priority and responsibility.