Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif shared a bizarre flood mitigation measure for those affected asking them to consider "storing" the water in "tubs". The comments came as surging water levels in Pakistan rivers left 2.4 million people homeless in Punjab and 41 people dead.
"People who are protesting against the flood-like situation should take the flood waters home. People should store this water at their homes, in tubs, and containers. We should look at this water in the form of a blessing and hence should store it," he told a local media channel. Moreover, he also suggested building dams for storing flood waters.
The TOI could not independently verify the authenticity of this video.
Similar claims were made by him while speaking on the floor of the national assembly. “In my own district, seasonal streams have wreaked havoc because people have built homes right on the drains,” he said, adding that powerful groups have even set up housing societies on river land. “Everyone knows who these people are; some of them are sitting in the Upper House,” Dunya News quoted him saying.
“We are letting water go down the drain. We must store it,” he added.
Pakistan’s Punjab is reeling under an intensifying flood crisis as the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers swell to “exceptionally high” levels, inundating large areas. The provincial disaster management authority (PDMA) has warned that heavy rains could trigger urban flooding in Lahore, Gujranwala, and Gujrat.
According to Dawn, the Chenab at Trimmu has already recorded a massive outflow of over 532,000 cusecs, classified as a “very high” flood, with projections of swelling to nearly 700,000 cusecs. The Ravi River is also in severe flood at Balloki Headworks with over 144,000 cusecs, while Sidhnai Headworks reported over 105,000 cusecs and rising.
"People who are protesting against the flood-like situation should take the flood waters home. People should store this water at their homes, in tubs, and containers. We should look at this water in the form of a blessing and hence should store it," he told a local media channel. Moreover, he also suggested building dams for storing flood waters.
Strongly condemn tone deaf comments by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif against the people of Sindh.
— Kumail Soomro (@kumailsoomro) September 1, 2025
"Sindhis were blocking roads for the river. They should consider these floods as a blessing and keep the water in their homes." pic.twitter.com/UkKdBHCeis
The TOI could not independently verify the authenticity of this video.
Similar claims were made by him while speaking on the floor of the national assembly. “In my own district, seasonal streams have wreaked havoc because people have built homes right on the drains,” he said, adding that powerful groups have even set up housing societies on river land. “Everyone knows who these people are; some of them are sitting in the Upper House,” Dunya News quoted him saying.
“We are letting water go down the drain. We must store it,” he added.
Pakistan’s Punjab is reeling under an intensifying flood crisis as the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers swell to “exceptionally high” levels, inundating large areas. The provincial disaster management authority (PDMA) has warned that heavy rains could trigger urban flooding in Lahore, Gujranwala, and Gujrat.
According to Dawn, the Chenab at Trimmu has already recorded a massive outflow of over 532,000 cusecs, classified as a “very high” flood, with projections of swelling to nearly 700,000 cusecs. The Ravi River is also in severe flood at Balloki Headworks with over 144,000 cusecs, while Sidhnai Headworks reported over 105,000 cusecs and rising.
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