Pakistan Floods Death Toll Rises, Aid Insufficient

Heavy monsoon rains since late June have triggered catastrophic flooding across Pakistan, with the nationwide death toll rising to at least 159 and nearly 300 injured in the past 24 hours, particularly in Punjab province. The worst-hit areas include Lahore, Faisalabad, Okara, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, and Chakwal, where record rainfall caused building collapses, flooded rivers, and destroyed over 120 houses. Emergency measures have been declared, with authorities deploying rescue teams, calling in military support, and placing hospitals on high alert. Residents in low-lying regions have been urged to evacuate as rivers like the Jhelum threaten to overflow and more rain is forecast. The UN and relief agencies warn that pre-positioned aid is insufficient for the scale of the crisis, and there is growing concern about potential glacier lake outburst floods. The disaster highlights Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change and the worsening impacts of inadequate infrastructure.