Shehbaz offers sympathies to Malaysian PM over loss of lives in recent floods

LAHORE: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday expressed deepest sympathies on behalf of the Pakistani people for the brotherly people of Malaysia over the loss of lives and property caused by recent floods due to torrential rains in several states of the country.

The prime minister in his telephonic conversation with his Malaysian counterpart Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, assured that the people of Pakistan stood in solidarity with their Malaysian brothers and sisters during this challenging time.

He also appreciated the swift and effective measures taken by the Malaysian government to address this natural calamity.

The prime minister offered all possible assistance to Malaysia and announced the immediate dispatch of humanitarian aid as a gesture of Pakistan’s support for its Malaysian brothers and sisters.

Referring to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent visit to Pakistan in October this year, PM Shehbaz expressed satisfaction with the positive momentum in bilateral relations and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.

He noted with satisfaction that most of the trade issues highlighted during the Malaysian Prime Minister’s visit to Pakistan had been successfully resolved. The Malaysian prime minister thanked Shehbaz Sharif for Pakistan’s support and agreed that both nations needed to work together to enhance relations in all key sectors.

The two leaders also agreed to continue high-level visits. The prime minister, as well as the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, are expected to visit Kuala Lumpur early next year, a press release issued by the PM Office said.

In his post on X, the prime minister said during his conversation with the Malaysian PM he also expressed deep admiration for the swift response of the Malaysian government to this natural calamity.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also expressed heartfelt grief over the loss of lives and destruction resulting from floods in Malaysia.

“The people of Pakistan are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life and destruction resulting from the devastating floods in Malaysia. Our heartfelt sincerest sympathies and prayers for the victims and their families. Pakistan is ready to extend all possible support to the recovery effort,” Ishaq Dar wrote on X.

More than 122,000 people have been forced out of their homes as massive floods caused by relentless rains swept through

Malaysia’s northern states, disaster officials said Saturday.

The number surpassed the 118,000 displaced during one of the country’s worst floodings in 2014, and disaster officials feared it could rise further as there was no let-up in torrential downpours.

The death toll remained at four recorded across Kelantan, Terengganu and Sarawak. Kelantan state bore the brunt of the flooding, accounting for 63 percent of the 122,631 people displaced, according to data from the National Disaster Management Agency.

There were nearly 35,000 people evacuated in Terengganu, with the rest of the displacements reported from seven other states. Heavy rains, which began early this week, continued to hammer Pasir Puteh town in Kelantan, where people could be seen walking through streets inundated with hip-deep waters.

Floods are an annual phenomenon in the Southeast Asian nation of 34 million people due to the northeast monsoon that brings heavy rain from November to March.

Thousands of emergency services personnel have been deployed in flood-prone states along with rescue boats, four-wheel-drive vehicles and helicopters, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who chairs the National Disaster Management Committee. APP