Pakistan Urges Unified Disaster Response as Monsoon Death Toll Hits 81

Islamabad: Pakistan called on Thursday for seamless coordination among federal and provincial disaster response agencies as the total number of fatalities from this year’s monsoon rains climbed to 81, with authorities scrambling to bolster preparedness and response amid continued heavy precipitation across the country.

The appeal emerged during the fourth meeting of the federal Emergency Response Committee, which examined relief supplies, evacuation plans, emergency communication protocols, and inter‑agency cooperation.

“We need flawless coordination across all response agencies to enable swift decision‑making and rapid resource mobilization whenever necessary,” Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said while chairing the meeting, according to an official statement.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), monsoon‑related incidents since June 26 have killed 81 people and injured 241 nationwide, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bearing the brunt of fatalities at 47, followed by Punjab with 21, Azad Jammu and Kashmir with seven, and Balochistan with six.

Over half of the deaths resulted from house collapses, underscoring the vulnerability of homes to torrential rains, while flash floods accounted for roughly one‑fifth of the casualties, NDMA data shows.

The storms have also damaged 387 homes, destroyed one bridge, impaired 6.72 kilometres (4.2 miles) of roads, and killed 207 livestock.

The Emergency Response Committee reaffirmed its dedication to enhancing national coordination and delivering a unified effort to protect lives, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure throughout the monsoon season, the statement added.

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