Monsoon rains also damaged homes, roads, bridges and power stations, Sherry Rehman told a news conference in the capital Islamabad, as storms continued to batter the country. Rehman said 39 of the 77 people died in Balochistan. Television footage showed vehicles being swept away by floods in Balochistan. Heavy rain also lashed Islamabad and eastern Punjab province. Pakistan’s president, Arif Alvi, expressed grief over the loss of life. Roads and houses were flooded in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, the provincial disaster management agency said. Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every weekday morning at 7am Rehman said the recent rains in Pakistan were 87% heavier than the average rainfall. He linked the new pattern to climate change, saying Pakistan should be prepared to face more flooding because the country’s glaciers were melting at a faster rate. This caused flash floods that had destroyed infrastructure. Naseer Nasar, spokesman for the Balochistan disaster management agency, said at least 50 people have been injured in rain-related incidents in the province since June. He said rescuers were taking people to safer places away from flood and rain-affected areas in Balochistan. Every year many cities in Pakistan struggle with the annual monsoon deluge, criticizing poor government planning. The season runs from July to September and experts say the rains are essential to irrigate crops and replenish dams and other water reservoirs in Pakistan. Some of the areas in southern Pakistan have been facing drought since the beginning of this year.
