government expanded its rescue operation with more than 900,000 evacuated, officials said Monday. The Pakistan Meteorological Department warned of more heavy rain in Punjab’s flood-hit districts and elsewhere in the country, where weeks of above-normal rainfall and the release of huge volumes of water from dams in neighbouring India last week caused rivers to overflow into low-lying regions. Authorities say Punjab, the country’s most populous province, is facing its biggest floods on record. In Multan and Jhang districts, residents on Monday waded through floodwaters carrying their belongings to roadsides and higher ground. They said they had waited for rescuers before crossing on their own nearly 5-foot (1 1/2-metre) -deep water to reach safety, while many others remained stranded. Since last week, rescuers, backed by the military and emergency services, have evacuated more than 900,000 people from more than 3,100 flood-hit villages, said Irfan Ali Kathia, director general of the Punjab Disaster Management Authority. More than 600,000 farm animals were also moved to safety, he told a news conference. (Jamaica Gleaner)