People suffering due to floods; Pak Defence Minister with bizarre advice of storing water in tubs

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been hit by floods due to heavy rains for the past few days. Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has come under heavy criticism for telling people how to deal with the floods. In a phone conversation with a TV channel, Khawaja Asif asked people living in low-lying areas to collect flood water in tubs and containers and not just dump it into drains. He also gave bizarre advice to see the floods as a blessing.

'People who are blocking roads against the flood-like situation should take the flood waters home and store this water there. 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' said Khawaja Asif. The Pak Defence Minister suggested that Pakistan needs small dams that can be built quickly to store water rather than mega projects that will last 10-15 years.

2.4 million people have been affected by floods in Pakistan, of which 2 million are in Punjab province. Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has said that 854 people have lost their lives from June 26 to August 31. The NDMA has said that the rains will continue in Punjab province for two more days.