Celebrities Call for Long-Term Solutions to Floods as Punjab Fights Worst Deluge in Decades

Pakistan’s showbiz industry has become part of a rising tide of opinion demanding action from the government in the form of urgent and long-term solutions as Punjab struggles to cope with what authorities have termed the worst flood in four decades.

Over 1.46 million have been affected throughout Punjab after non-stop monsoon rains and swollen rivers inundated large tracts of land, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said. Heavy flooding from the Ravi River this week submerged numerous Lahore neighborhoods, triggering mass evacuations. Authorities also reported several deaths and extensive damage to homes, crops, and infrastructure.

The crisis reopened a controversy about India’s involvement in water management. Senior Pakistani cabinet ministers, including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, charged India with unilaterally releasing vast amounts of water without coordination, violating the Indus Waters Treaty. They accused New Delhi of seeking to “politicize water” at the expense of downstream communities.

In the midst of the destruction, some of the country’s biggest showbiz stars have used social media to raise the suffering of damaged families and demand systemic change. Actress Mawra Hocane called on people to help neighbors and communities, saying that “life is as beautiful as we make it, and recent events remind us how fragile it can be.

Television presenter Anoushey Ashraf condemned political leadership for not acting with speed. “Our leaders need to do more than make speeches and give promises — nature does not wait,” she tweeted.

Actor Ahsan Mohsin Ikram emphasized the construction of small and big dams and clearing riverbank encroachments, which he called a leading reason for avoidable deaths.

Established actor Adnan Siddiqui prayed for mercy, while comedian Ahmed Ali Butt was frustrated, stating: “Floods occur in Punjab every year, state of emergencies are announced, but we still do not take things seriously.”

On X (formerly Twitter), painter and activist Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr. congratulated common people risking their lives to save strangers, hailing them the “true heroes of this tragedy.” He added that the state was in debt to individuals who acted unselfishly when institutions failed them.

Authorities said relief camps have been established in affected districts but cautioned that it will take months to recover. Analysts commented that celebrity appeals indicate broader public outrage at repeated flooding and the lack of lasting flood management plans.

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