Islamabad: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pledged $3 million in emergency assistance to Pakistan to help rehabilitate families devastated by the ongoing floods. ADB President Masato Kanda, while expressing sorrow over the loss of lives due to torrential rains and flooding, said the funds would be released from the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund.
The aid comes as Pakistan grapples with one of the most severe flood situations in recent memory. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed on Friday that at least 28 people have lost their lives in Punjab, where three major rivers — Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej — are in flood simultaneously for the first time in the province’s history.
Critical flood peaks in Punjab
A flood peak of 1.05 million cusecs passed through Khanki and Qadirabad barrages, raising concerns downstream. In Jhang, authorities took the extraordinary step of breaching the Rewas railway bridge to divert floodwaters, a move that reportedly saved the city from devastation. Between 100,000 and 150,000 cusecs of water gushed through the breach and is now heading towards Head Trimmu, where water pressure continues to rise.
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Ravi River situation
Fresh figures released by PDMA show that 160,515 cusecs are flowing at Siphon and 159,847 cusecs at Shahdara. At Jassar, the flow stands at 82,140 cusecs. Officials noted that while the Ravi has seen some decline in water levels between Jassar and Shahdara over the past 12 to 36 hours, the pressure has been increasing at Balloki Headworks in Kasur and other downstream areas.
Threat of further flooding
With another active monsoon system beginning to affect northern Pakistan, authorities have warned of possible flooding in the Jhelum River due to heavy rainfall in its catchment areas. Meanwhile, the Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej continue to wreak havoc across Punjab’s countryside, inundating vast tracts of farmland once considered the food basket of the Subcontinent.
Emergency teams remain deployed across affected districts, with rescue and relief operations underway to protect vulnerable communities.
