CM tours flood-hit areas, gives away cheques to affectees

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan paid a day long visit to flood-hit districts of Karak and Tank and handed over compensation cheques to the affected families on Saturday.

He visited the Union Council Pai and other areas of district tank and various sites of tehsil Takht-e-Nasrati in district Karak which were affected by the recent flash floods.

The chief minister on the occasion handed over the compensation cheques of Rs3 lakh each to the heirs of deceased persons and announced that they would also get an additional amount of Rs5 lakh each.

He further announced Rs4 lakh for fully damaged houses and one lac and sixty thousand rupee for partially damaged houses each.

The chief minister has directed the district administrations of Tank and Karak to carry out realistic assessment of the damages in consultation with the local public representatives and submit complete report to this effect within a month.

He also announced a special package of Rs300 million for Tehsil Takht-e-Nasrati and Rs200 million for Union Council Pai with the aim at rebuilding the infrastructure affected by the recent floods.

Addressing the cheques distribution ceremonies on the occasion, the chief minister asked the people to not feel alone in this tough situation, assuring them full support of the provincial government.

Touching upon the development strategy of his government, Mahmood Khan said that provincial government had spent billions for the development of less developed areas including Tank and Karak adding that efforts were also underway to resolve the long standing issues of the people of these districts.

He said that provision of clean drinking water from Gomal Zam Dam to Tank City would be started within the next one year.

whereas initiatives were also in progress to resolve the issues of clean drinking water in the other southern districts. Mahmood Khan ordered operation against the encroachments on natural water ways adding that complete removal of such encroachments was of vital importance to save the precious lives of the people in future.

He paid rich tributes to the relief department and other relevant agencies for their best performance to give immediate relief to the people of flood hit areas.

Provincial Minister for Relief Iqbal Wazir, Member Provincial assembly Pakhtunyar, ex-MNAs Shahid Khattak, Ali Amin Gandapur, divisional commissioners and other relevant officials were present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2022.