THE upper regions of Khyber Pakhtun-khwa (KP) province were severely affected by the devastating floods that his the region last year. This included damage to residential buildings, hotels and shops as well as roads and patches of highways.

Many of the affected areas remain in a state of disrepair even after a year. Roads and highways in these areas are often constructed alongside rivers, making them vulnerable to flooding, which has a significant impact on the tourism sector.

The floods had a detrimental effect on the tourism sector in these areas. In some parts of upper Swat, entire villages were submerged, while others suffered partial damage.

Hotels and restaurants built along the Swat River were completely destroyed, resulting in massive economic losses. The main highways that were temporarily constructed to maintain transportation still remain in a state of disrepair.

Unfortunately, little attention has been paid to the task of repairing these roads. Temporary fixes involving filling the cracked roads with soil were implemented, but these measures pose significant risks, especially regarding soil erosion. Even more concerning is the fact that water supply pipelines, installed over these compromised roads, have developed leaks, exacerbating the threat as soil erosion is a serious issue in these areas.

The relevant authorities, including the National Highway Authority (NHA), need to take this matter seriously. The provincial government must prioritise the reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure in order to safeguard the lives as well as wellbeing of the people.

Ubaid Sahil
Swat

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2024