Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed all federal and provincial institutions to remain on high alert and ensure full preparedness to deal with any emergency arising from the ongoing monsoon rains and the resulting flood situation across the country.

He was chairing a review meeting in Islamabad today (Tuesday) to assess the flood situation caused by the ongoing monsoon spell.

The Prime Minister directed the National Disaster Management Authority to maintain continuous coordination with Provincial Disaster Management Authorities and provincial governments and ensure the timely dissemination of weather forecasts and monsoon-related information to all relevant federal and provincial institutions.

He also directed Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal to chair the Flood Committee's meetings on a daily basis to review the evolving situation and formulate an appropriate course of action.

Shehbaz Sharif stressed the need to keep the early warning system for Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and flash floods in the northern areas fully operational.

He said Pakistan's contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions is minimal, yet the country is among the worst affected by the adverse impacts of climate change. He said the government is working expeditiously on short, medium and long-term measures to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The Prime Minister instructed the NDMA, in coordination with all relevant institutions, to ensure that every possible step is taken to minimize the loss of life and property during the ongoing monsoon season.

The meeting was briefed by the NDMA and the chief secretaries of all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir on the recent monsoon rains, resulting damages, and ongoing rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

It was informed that the NDMA is extending full support and resources to provincial governments to deal with flooding in the northern areas and the ongoing heat-wave in Sindh and Balochistan.

It was further said that a major spell of monsoon rains is expected over the next two days in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and southern Sindh, while another significant nationwide spell is forecast from the second week of September.

The meeting was informed that the Flood Committee constituted on the Prime Minister's directives is holding regular meetings to monitor the situation and ensure effective implementation of rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures.

The participants were told that the current monsoon spell has so far claimed 110 lives, injured 360 people, damaged 796 houses and resulted in the death of 376 livestock.

The meeting was informed that the ongoing El Niño phenomenon has accelerated glacier melting in Pakistan's northern regions, increasing the risk of GLOFs and flash floods over the next month. Authorities have identified vulnerable areas and are taking precautionary measures.

The meeting was apprised that immediate steps have been taken to control urban flooding in central Punjab, including Lahore, while drainage operations are continuing in areas where agricultural land has been inundated by floodwaters. The flood situation in Dera Ghazi Khan and adjoining areas is currently under control.

It was briefed that roads at 106 locations have been reopened through timely action.

The meeting was further informed that the National Emergency and Telecommunication Centre established by the Ministry of Information Technology is fully operational, enabling Rescue 1122 to respond immediately to emergency calls made from any mobile phone.

It was told that 700 locations have been identified across the country to store rainwater during the monsoon season for use in agriculture during dry periods.