JHANG: The district administration has rescued 423,594 people and 223,424 animals during the recent devastating floods, relocating them to safe areas.
Relief efforts included the distribution of 12,901 ration bags across all four tehsils and the provision of large quantities of fodder for livestock, including 214,120 kilogrammes of green fodder and 393,880 kilogrammes of Wanda (cattle feed).
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ali Akbar Bhinder, briefing the media on September 15, said the operations were conducted under the directives of the Punjab Chief Minister and senior government authorities. He maintained that shelter, food, and healthcare arrangements for the flood victims were ensured and widely appreciated by divisional and provincial authorities.
The DC said 150 boats were deployed to evacuate people from submerged villages and shift them to 35 relief camps, 20 of which were set up in government buildings. He reported that the floods damaged 311 villages, affected a population of 563,000, and inundated 380,988 acres of land, including crops on 324,292 acres. Infrastructure losses included 108 roads, 229 schools, and 19 health centres.
According to the administration, three meals a day are being served in all relief camps, while livestock feed, including 214,130 kilogrammes of dry fodder, 32,140 kilogrammes of silage, 6,475 kilogrammes of bran, and 393,880 kilogrammes of Wanda has been distributed among farmers. Medical teams have treated 45,542 men, women, and children, while veterinary units have provided care for 73,070 animals.
The DC added that 35 field teams continue to deliver rations to the worst-hit areas and a comprehensive damage assessment survey is underway to guide the next phase of rehabilitation. He assured that transparency and merit would be ensured in providing assistance to all affected families.
WASA LAUNCHES SEWERAGE REHABILITATION PLAN: The Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) is carrying out large-scale rehabilitation of Jhang’s sewerage system to address long-standing drainage issues, Managing Director Syed Saulat Shah said on Monday.
During a media briefing, he noted that the agency’s efficiency was demonstrated during the recent 48-hour spell of historic rainfall when rainwater was drained from several areas within hours. He pointed out that Jhang’s sewerage system, laid in 1970, is outdated and requires complete replacement.
The MD said rehabilitation and up-gradation of all five disposal pumps is underway, along with the repair and cleaning of connected sewerage lines. A new disposal station at Aliabad has been linked to Gulshan Colony, Basti Ali Muhammad Arain, Abbottpur Chowk, and adjoining areas through the installation of a new sewerage line. Special attention, he added, is being given to the Lakhiwala disposal station, which will help resolve sewerage issues in Sargodha Road, Rail Bazaar, Yousaf Shah Road, Gohar Shah Main Bazaar, and nearby localities.
Highlighting challenges, he said Wasa currently has only 87 sewerage staff and no functional machinery. Temporary equipment was borrowed from other divisional departments to keep work on track. Despite these limitations, he assured, Wasa is determined to resolve the city’s long-standing sewerage issues through proper planning.
Published in The News on September 16, 2025.
