GILGIT, Aug 4: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Gilgit on a one-day visit to assess flood damage and distribute financial aid to affected residents.
Federal Ministers Abdul Aleem Khan (Communications) and Attaullah Tarar (Information) accompanied the Prime Minister. Governor Syed Mehdi Shah and Chief Minister Gulbar Khan of Gilgit-Baltistan received the delegation at the airport.
Officials briefed the Prime Minister on the destruction caused by recent rains and floods. He also met with local leaders to review relief operations.
Later, Prime Minister Shehbaz visited flood-hit communities and personally handed out relief funds to victims. His visit reflects the federal government’s commitment to supporting disaster-stricken areas across the country, said a government official.
The recent monsoon-driven flash floods across Gilgit-Baltistan, particularly in late July 2025, have inflicted catastrophic damage on the region. Local authorities declared 37 areas across Diamer, Gilgit, Ghizer, Skardu, Shigar, Ghanche, Nagar, and Kharmang districts as calamity‑hit zones, with total losses estimated at over Rs 20 billion .
The floods have washed away more than 22 km of roads, destroyed bridges, vehicles, and severely crippled infrastructure including water, power, and communication networks across the affected areas.