PPP-led Sindh govt has performed exceptionally well amid floods: Umar Rehman Malik

Abdullah Jan

Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Umar Rehman Malik this week said that the PPP-led Sindh government had performed exceptionally well amid floods.

“Hopefully the damages will be controlled and minimised as CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah has outlined Sindh’s flood strategy, focusing on three priorities; protecting lives, securing Guddu and Sukkur barrages, and reinforcing embankments at critical points,” he said in a statement.

The PPP leader added: “With focused attention on vulnerable areas like Qadirpur and clear accountability assigned, the administration is executing a structured and strategic plan, building on the experience of previous floods when under the leadership of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sindh government delivered exemplary relief and rehabilitation. May everyone remain safe, and may Pakistan face this challenge with minimal impact.”

Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said the provincial government had made preparations to deal with the anticipated “super flood”, which could endanger lives of more than 1.63 million people.

“We have devised a comprehensive strategy. First, we will save people and cattle, then ensure the safety of Guddu, Sukkur, and Kotri barrages,” he said.

CM Shah explained that water levels in Ravi and Trimmu rivers were rising and were being closely monitored, as inflows from Trimmu would reach Sindh in about five days via Panjnad. “By tonight, Trimmu may touch its highest point, which will give us a clear estimate of how much water Sindh will receive,” he said.

The chief minister said mapping had already been completed to identify vulnerable villages. “We know exactly which areas will be affected at different water levels — 500,000 to 700,000 cusecs, 700,000 to 900,000, or even beyond. If inflows cross 900,000 cusecs, over 200,000 people may be impacted,” he warned.

He warned that Sindh’s terrain poses greater risks than Punjab’s. “In Punjab, designated breaches allow water to return quickly to the river. But Sindh lies below river level, so once water spreads, it does not recede easily,” he explained.

At Guddu Barrage, Minister Irrigation Shoro and Secretary Irrigation Zareef Khero told the chief minister that the rehabilitation and modernisation project, launched in 2017, has achieved 72.6 per cent physical and 78.6 per cent financial progress.

The project, being executed by China’s New Era Development Group, is now expected to be completed by March 2026. The chief minister directed that the project must be finished within the revised timeline without compromising on quality.