Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Rs 3 Billion Released for Rescue and Relief, Chief Minister Visits Flood-Hit Areas
Rs 1.56 billion allocated for repair of damaged infrastructure, Rs 1 billion for relief activities, and Rs 500 million for affected areas
Peshawar (Web News)
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has released Rs 3 billion for relief and rescue operations following the devastation caused by heavy rains and floods, while Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has departed to visit the affected areas.
In view of the emergency situation arising from rains and flash floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur left Dera Ismail Khan to visit the flood-hit regions, where he will meet with affected families and hear their grievances. A provincial government team has already reached the affected sites to assess relief activities and victims’ needs, while the Chief Minister has also dispatched his media coordinator, Faraz Ahmed Mughal, to the area to supervise relief operations and directly listen to people’s concerns. The government has assured full support to the victims.
An important meeting was held in Peshawar under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, attended by the Chief Secretary, administrative secretaries, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, and PDMA officials. The meeting was briefed in detail about the damages, rescue operations, and relief efforts. It was informed that so far, including various incidents and the helicopter tragedy, a total of 309 people have lost their lives, while 23 others are injured, with the number expected to rise. Floods have partially damaged 63 houses, and a survey of destroyed infrastructure is ongoing and will be completed by evening.
Medical teams, medicines, and essential food supplies are being delivered to the affected areas, while rescue and rehabilitation efforts have been accelerated. Additionally, Rs 1.5 billion has been released to PDMA and another Rs 1.5 billion to the Department of Communications for immediate restoration of affected regions. Rs 500 million has been handed over to the concerned deputy commissioners for compensation payments to the families of those who lost their lives.
During the briefing, it was stated that flood and health emergencies have been declared across the province. With the support of the federal government and Pakistan Army, relief and rehabilitation operations are ongoing, though overall coordination will remain under civil administration.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said that the timely response of provincial institutions and district administrations during the emergency was commendable. He directed that the same spirit be shown in relief and rehabilitation efforts. He instructed that disconnected roads must be restored first, and where impossible, helicopter service should be initiated. He further directed that compensation payments to victims must be ensured within two days, there should be no shortage in the supply of food, and additional medical staff should be deployed from adjoining districts.
The Chief Minister ordered that relief operations be monitored through an effective system at the Chief Secretary and PDMA levels, while heavy machinery be mobilized immediately for infrastructure restoration.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Adviser Muzammil Aslam stated that, on the Chief Minister’s directives, the Finance Department has released approximately Rs 3 billion for flood victims. Of this, Rs 1.56 billion has been given to the C&W Department for repair of roads, bridges, and highways, Rs 1 billion to PDMA for relief activities, while Rs 500 million has already been disbursed to the affected areas. Provincial authorities are assessing the financial impact on damaged infrastructure and the economy, with further relief and rehabilitation measures underway.