Rawalpindi—Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has expressed deep sorrow and regret over the colossal loss of life and property during the ongoing floods.According to a press release of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the COAS stated that the Pakistan Army is making all out efforts for rescue and relief of the affected people. “Army is working at full pace and capacity to extend maximum help to the people”, he stated. COAS also announced the donation of one day salary of all ranks of the Pakistan Army in Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, established for the flood affectees.
“Furthermore, in the line with their tradition, soldiers of the Pakistan Army feel proud in sharing their bread with the affected countrymen and have distributed 520 tons of rations thus far,” the army chief said.
General Kayani reiterated that the Pakistan Army will also contribute meaningfully towards rehabilitation and reconstruction activities.
Meanwhile, the relief and rescue operations by the Pakistan Army continue in the flood affected areas of Multan, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Mithankot, Liyyah, Rahimyar Khan, DI Khan, Swat, Dir, Kalam, Neelam Valley in Azad Kashmir and Kohistan.
So far more than 60,000 stranded people have been rescued from flood hit areas and moved to the safer places. As many as 40 helicopters and 450 army boats are taking part in rescue activities
In Sindh, troops have been moved for flood relief duty and employed at Kandkot, Guddu Barrage, Qadirpur Loop Bund, Nowshero Feroze, Larkana, Dadu, Thatta and Sukkur Barrage. Three more boat off loading points have been established at Goth Oral, Pawan Panwari, South of FM Bund to speed up evacuation of people from Kacho. Officers of Army Engineers have been placed at Guddu, Sukkur, and Kotri Barrage to assist irrigation department in flood monitoring.
Early Wednesday morning the relief and rescue operation in Dir, Swat, Malakand, Kalam, Khawazakhela, Shangla, Madian and Kalam resumed after a brief pause due to bad weather. Since all bridges on Swat River have been destroyed the entire relief and rescue activities are being carried out by helicopters. As many as 18 helicopters are taking part in rescue activities in Swat. On Wednesday 700 stranded tourists in Kalam were evacuated. Eighteen tourists from Chitral were also rescued.
The Pakistan Army has provided 15 water filtration plants in Mingora, Manglore, Charbagh, Barikot, Thana and Malakand and distributed 20,000 cooked food packets. 110,000 packets of meal ready to eat (MRE) have also been distributed.
2,000 packets of dry rations (20 Kgs each) have been distributed among the flood affectees. A foot bridge has been constructed at Chakdara which is a major link between Malakand and Chitral. Army engineers have commenced repair work at main Chakdara bridge. Four field hospitals have been established in Charsadda, Nowshera, Jalozai and DI Khan. In last 24 hours 7,000 patients have been provided free medical treatment.
In Upper Dir, road Shringal-Patrak have been repaired and opened for general public. Khazana bridge has been repaired and opened for light traffic. As many as three helicopters are providing relief items to flood affectees in Kohistan areas. Medical camps have been established at Shringal, Khal and Chakdara.
In Mohmand Agency the main route from Ghallanai to Mohammad Ghat, which was damaged due to floods, has been repaired and opened for all types of traffic.
In Khyber Agency Torkham-Peshawar road, which was damaged due to rains, has been repaired and opened for all types of traffic.
Two MI-17 helicopters carried out relief and rescue operation in Neelam Valley and evacuated 20 families to safer places and also provided relief goods to the stranded people. Relief and rescue activities by the Pakistan Army continued in Mithinkot in Kot Addu, Liyah and Muzaffargarh.
The Pakistan Army engineers are busy in opening roads and making diversions to facilitate the flow of traffic. Pakistan Army doctors and paramedical staff are providing necessary medical treatment to the patients. In short Pakistan army is good than our politicians.PAKISTAN ARMY ZINDABAD!
