Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the Maldivians living in Pakistan are safe after devastating floods swept across a number of regions of the country.
The foreign ministry stated that 67 Maldivians are currently registered at the High Commission of the Maldives in Islamabad and that most of them reside in Lahore and Karachi. The ministry stated that the High Commission is in contact with the registered Maldivians and that all are reported as safe. It added that the High Commission Is closely monitoring the situation.
Unusually heavy monsoon rains have caused devastating floods in both the north and south of Pakistan, affecting more than 30 million people and killing more than 1,000 people. The South Asian nation was already in an economic crisis, facing high inflation, a depreciating currency and a current account deficit.
The Government of Pakistan has stated that the floods have caused USD10 billion of damage and has earmarked USD173 million to aid flood-affected people. Pakistan has also received a USD1.1 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The humanitarian situation is expected to worsen as communities and infrastructure are unable to cope with ongoing heavy rainfall.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid have sent condolences to Pakistan expressing grief over the tragic loss of lives. They offered their sympathies and prayers to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the government, and the people of Pakistan.