Sharif says Zardari must cancel UK visit to help flood-hit Pak people

PESHAWAR - Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has asked President Asif Ali Zardari to cancel his United Kingdom visit when the country was suffering due to floods.

Visiting various rains and flood-hit localities, Sharif: “It is inappropriate time for President Asif Ali Zardari to visit the UK as rains and flash floods have caused havoc in the country.”

“It would have been better if he cancelled his visit to Britain, and the expenses on his trip be spent on assistance to those people who have been affected by rains and floods,” The Nation quoted Sharif, as saying.e said that it was a critical stage where national leaders should assist the affected families, and condole with those who have lost everything.

The death toll from the devastating floods has risen to 1,300, with waterborne diseases adding to the misery of the people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director, Shakil Qadir, said that 690 people had been killed in Charsadda, Nowshera, Peshawar, Mardan and Swabi.

He also said that 115 people were still missing since the torrential rains and floods hit the province.

According to reports, the death toll in the worst hit districts of Swat and Shangla had reached 434.

The Meteorological Department had issued a warning on Sunday, saying that a high tide was expected to pass through Taunsa Barrage before Tuesday, putting Punjab’s southern districts at high risk. (ANI)