CHARSADDA: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Mohammad Arshad Khan and Fish Sellers Association provincial president Jan Mohammad on Monday claimed that Charsadda, Swat, Nowshera, Mardan and Peshawar districts were vulnerable to flooding due to the ban on riverbed mining, closure of canals and streams, and construction of concrete embankments.

They told reporters here that the district administrations had banned the removal of sand, stones and mud from the River Swat and River Kabul, so those rivers overflowed during heavy rains damaging public life and property and crops.

The two leaders said unavailability of irrigation water was rendering vast fertile land in Charsadda, Swat, Mardan, Nowshera and Peshawar barren.

They said the recent floods ruined most of the irrigation land inflicting heavy losses on farmers and land owners.

Mr Khan and Mr Mohammad demanded of the federal and provincial governments and superior courts to intervene for an immediate end to ban on silt extraction from riverbeds.

They said land of those districts was fertile and produced crops, vegetables and fruits to markets across the country.

The two leaders said the irrigation system should be maintained for the country’s self-sufficiency in food production.

They said water level was rising in Warsak and Tarbela dams due to mud, sand and stones, so a major tragedy could happen anytime.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2023