SWAT: Malakand Commissioner Shaukat Ali Yousafzai said here on Wednesday that Qatar always helped Pakistani people in their difficult times and he was thankful that it reached for the flood-hit people of Swat.

He said this during a meeting with a delegation of Qatar Charity headed by Nawaf Abdullah Hamadi in his office. The delegation included Amin Abdur Rahman, country director of Pakistan for Qatar Charity, Ahmed Abdullah and A Rehman Bakumal from Bahrain and Michelle Shakir Dawood from Kuwait and others. MPA Mian Sharafat Ali and Swat Additional Deputy Commissioner Sohail Ahmed were also present on the occasion.

The delegation was briefed about the damage and losses caused by the recent floods in Swat. Various aspects of possible assistance from Qatar to the flood-affected districts of Malakand division were also discussed.

The commissioner thanked Qatar Charity for sending the delegation to show solidarity with the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially Malakand division, and for the assurance of providing assistance and support the flood victims.

“There is a strong relationship between Qatari and Pakistani people. Qatari people have always taken care of Pakistanis in general and the people of Malakand division in particular,” he said.

He said that the floods damaged the tourism infrastructure, which was base for the economic development of in Malakand division.

The commissioner said that several schools were also damaged by the floods. He said that agricultural fields, a large number of houses and private property were also washed away by the floods due to which people were also facing financial difficulties.

He said that emergency was imposed soon after the flash floods hit the areas and rescue and relief activities were carried out due to which the affected families received timely support. He said that road and other infrastructures required urgent restoration for the economic development of Malakand division.

The Qatar Charity delegation assured the commissioner of providing support in relief activities and said that a technical team would soon visit Malakand for a detailed assessment.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2022