Punjab govt approves flood protection projects worth millions to prevent river erosion

Punjab Health Minister and Chairman Cabinet Committee on Disaster Management Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that protecting people from financial and human losses during the monsoon season is the top priority of the Punjab government, adding that all relevant departments are fully coordinated for flood prevention efforts across the province

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th May, 2026) Punjab Health Minister and Chairman Cabinet Committee on Disaster Management Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that protecting people from financial and human losses during the monsoon season is the top priority of the Punjab government, adding that all relevant departments are fully coordinated for flood prevention efforts across the province.

He expressed these views while chairing a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Disaster Management at the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Headquarters on Thursday. The meeting reviewed and approved several schemes aimed at preventing river erosion and protecting vulnerable populations and agricultural land.

During the meeting, emergency measures worth Rs94.49 million were approved to protect Biraj Cheema and Biraj Dhalla villages from erosion caused by the Chenab River. A separate project worth Rs98.74 million was approved for the protection of Thatti Baloch village, while another scheme worth Rs86.71 million was sanctioned to safeguard Garhi Gulla and Ratta villages.

The committee directed authorities to take immediate steps to save agricultural land from Chenab River erosion. A major project worth Rs283.481 million was also approved for the construction of a protective dam on the Ravi River.

The meeting further approved protective measures costing Rs34.394 million for the safety of the population in Ganda Singh Wala, Kasur. Another project worth Rs99.

95 million was approved to address flood-related erosion of agricultural land in village Labanwala, Sheikhupura, and to prevent future risks. A flood protection scheme for Dhanghana in Mianwali was also approved.

Addressing the meeting, Khawaja Salman Rafique said that under the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, important decisions are being taken to prevent river erosion and reduce flood risks. He stated that the government wants to protect millions of citizens from financial and human losses through timely preventive measures. He reiterated that all concerned departments are on the same page regarding flood prevention and that the Punjab government is moving in the right direction through practical and timely decisions.

Director General PDMA Umar Javed informed the meeting that progress is continuing on the procurement of relief items for emergency response. He added that a Rs100 million project has been approved for the construction of a safety dam in Jhang, while another project costing Rs99.95 million has been sanctioned for the expansion of a safety dam to protect the PARCO pipeline and nearby population.

The meeting was attended by DG PDMA Umar Javed and other senior officers, while commissioners of Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujrat, Sargodha and Gujranwala divisions joined through video link. Deputy commissioners of Faisalabad, Jhang, Gujranwala, Wazirabad, Kasur, Sheikhupura and Mianwali also participated through video link.