On the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has immediately activated the 911 emergency helpline across Pakistan.
According to the ministry, the service will continue to function even in areas where mobile network towers are damaged or inactive, ensuring citizens can still access urgent help.
Affected individuals can dial 911 in case of an emergency, while officials urge the general public to avoid unnecessary calls so that the system remains available for those in genuine need.
The move comes as devastating rains, cloudbursts, and flash floods wreak havoc in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. More than 250 people have lost their lives across the northern regions, with Buner alone recording over 150 deaths and several residents still missing.
Entire villages have been swept away, homes destroyed, and livestock as well as vehicles carried off by raging floodwaters. Survivors have been left stranded as infrastructure and communication lines remain badly disrupted.
In response to the worsening crisis, Prime Minister Sharif directed that relief goods be dispatched to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on a priority basis through trucks.
The government has pledged to accelerate rescue and relief operations to support affected communities during the national emergency.
