At a time of historic flood disaster in Pakistan’s Punjab province, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has invited sharp criticism for making a ridiculous and insensitive comment. In an interview with an area information channel, Asif advised flood-hit residents to deal with the surplus water as a “blessing” and to “retailer it” in containers of their homes.
Minister’s Assertion Arises In The Wake Of Human And Financial Disaster
Asif’s assertion has gone viral and elicited widespread anger on social media. His assertion got here at a time when persistent monsoon rains are nonetheless wreaking havoc on the area. Native media reported that monsoon flooding in Punjab has claimed no less than 33 lives and displaced greater than 700,000 residents, affecting an estimated two million folks.
Allah despatched flood to Pakistan save Pakistanis:
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khwaja Asif steered that the floods needs to be seen as a ‘Blessing,’ urging civilians to retailer the floodwater in tubs and buckets at residence as a substitute of protesting. pic.twitter.com/9bngzs8FxD
— OSINT Updates (@OsintUpdates) September 1, 2025
Punjab’s senior minister Maryam Aurangzeb described this because the “largest flood within the historical past of the Punjab,” highlighting that three massive rivers—Sutlej, Chenab, and Ravi—had seen water ranges in contrast to ever earlier than. The state of affairs has additionally created apprehensions of a meals disaster, given floods in 2022 worn out huge tracts of agriculture, and Punjab is a significant agricultural belt.
Fatalities And Harm Proceed To Rise Throughout The Nation
The monsoon season has been particularly harsh this yr, with the Nationwide Climate Heart reporting that Punjab had 26.5% extra rainfall between July 1 and August 27 than within the corresponding interval final yr. Pakistan’s nationwide catastrophe administration authority has reported that rain-related incidents have claimed the lives of 849 people and injured 1,130 throughout the nation since June 26, highlighting the magnitude of the present humanitarian disaster.