LOWER DIR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has said that provincial government will utilise all available resources for the rehabilitation of flood victims across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

During his visit to Lower Dir on Monday, he said that flood victims were not alone and the government stood by them. He was accompanied by Provincial Minister Shaukat Yousafzai and Malakand Commissioner Shaukat Ali.

The chief minister reached Timergara through a helicopter after visiting Chitral district. MNA Syed Mehboob Shah, MPA Azam Khan, Special Assistant to Chief Minister Shafiullah Khan, Balambat tehsil chairman Asim Shoaib, Khall tehsil chairman Ashraf Salar and others were present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Mahmood Khan said that they were public representatives and would not sit idle until complete rehabilitation of flood victims. He assured the flood victims that the government would provide Rs200 million to the affected Balambat and Khall tehsils in Lower Dir.

Announces Rs400,000 each for owners of damaged houses in Dir

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zubair Khan briefed the chief minister on flood’s devastation and relief and rehabilitation activities in the district.

He said that a total of 11 persons were killed and five received injuries while 16 houses were fully damaged and 202 were partially damaged by flood in the district. He said that eight bridges and 32 link roads were partially damaged.

The deputy commissioner said that a total of 78 schools and 30 water supply schemes were also partially damaged. He said that a bridge and six government schools were completely destroyed. He said that 164 people were rescued and shifted to safer places. He said that 30 link roads and 37 electricity feeders were rehabilitated in the district.

About the relief activities the chief minister was informed that 74 tents were distributed among the flood victims in Timergara and Khall areas. He was told that 150 food packages and 728 other relief items were also distributed among the affected families.

The chief minister announced Rs800,000 each for the dead and Rs400,000 each for the owners of the completely damaged houses. He directed the National Highways Authority to take practical steps for rehabilitation of the damaged bridge in Khall.

He said that protection of human lives was the top priority of the government. He said that government had taken initiatives to rehabilitate the damaged infrastructure soon.

Mahmood Khan also visited some affected areas in Khall and met with locals. PTI MNA from Lower Dir Mahboob Shah, MPA Azam Khan, Khall tehsil chairman Ashraf Salar and scores of party activists and locals were present on this occasion.

The chief minister said on the occasion that government was fully aware of its responsibilities and it would never leave the affected people alone in the difficult time.

Earlier, a group of PTI workers chanted slogans against the chief minister when he returned from the official briefing at Dir Scouts Fort. The PTI workers blocked his way to the helicopter and shouted slogans against him.

Minister Shaukat Yousafzai tried to silence the workers but they did not listen to him. At this the chief minister stopped and listened to the workers at the helipad before leaving for Khall.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2022