Around 1000 casualties have been reported during monsoon 2025 and PM has raised ex-gratia assistance from Rs. 1 million to Rs. 2 million for the next of kin of deceased.
A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat was held today at 11:00 a.m. in Committee Room No. 1, Parliament House, Islamabad. The meeting commenced with the recitation from the Holy Quran.
The meeting was presided over by Senator Rana Mehmood ul Hassan, Chairman of the Committee. The meeting was attended by Senators Saadia Abbasi, Ata-ur-Rehman, Aimal Wali Khan, Mohammad Abdul Qadir, Dr. Afnan ullah Khan and Shahadat Awan along-with Secretary Establishment Division, Special Secretary Cabinet Division, Chairman PTA and other senior officers.
The Member, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), briefed the Committee on the recent flood situation across the country, particularly in Sindh and Punjab. He informed the Committee that around 1,000 casualties have been reported in the wake of the recent floods however there is a possibility that these figures may rise once rescue, evacuation and relief operations are completed and floodwaters have subsided. The Committee was also informed that around 1000 people sustained injuries of various kinds.
The Committee was also apprised that 12,559 houses were damaged and 6,509 livestock was lost. However it was reiterated that these figures would increase following the completion of relief work. The Committee was also informed that 3 million people were rescued/ evacuated from 26th June to 19th September, 2025.
Upon inquiry of Members, it was informed that the Prime Minister has raised ex-gratia assistance from Rs. 1 million to Rs.2 million for each next of kin of deceased during monsoon 2025 which will have a financial impact of Rs. 2,033.7 million. The Committee was also informed that there is a prediction of 22 percent more rainfall in the next year which would require timely interventions. The Committee appreciated the efforts of NDMA.
The Director General, Pakistan Academy for Rural Development (PARD), also briefed the Committee on its performance over the past three years. He informed that PARD, established in 1957, has significantly enhanced its training capacity. During 2021–2025, PARD conducted trainings for more than 48,000 officers of various grades.
The Committee inquired the rationale for specific emphasis on rural in its name and recommended that considering the challenges of today efforts should be made to change the name to only Development. The Committee also recommended that efforts should be made to ensure more effective utilization of the infrastructure of this facility.
The Committee also considered Starred Question No. 27 asked by Senator Shahadat Awan on “the details of Criteria devised by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to deal with the roll-out obligations by the licensees in absence of any regulation/ framework made for Right of Way” in the Senate sitting held on 25th July, 2025 and recommended that specific queries of the Mover will be shared with PTA and IT Ministry so they can respond to them in a proper manner.
The Committee also considered Private member Bill titled “The Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2025” introduced by Senator Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan in the Senate sitting held on 21st July, 2025 however since the Cannabis Control Authority had informed that they would need to take the amendment to their Board of Governors but the said meeting could not take place so the bill was deferred.
