Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has ordered a comprehensive study to identify flood sensitive spots in the province for construction of embankments and flood protection walls.
This project will be included in the development budget to preclude possible damages in the future.
The chief minister appreciated the role of political leaders, district authorities, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), rescue and relief workers, adding that the entire government machinery undertook the responsibility of relief and rescue without hesitation in the wake of the natural catastrophe which struck the province.
Chairing a meeting to review the damages caused by floods in the province, the chief minister directed the district administrations to ensure relief items are distributed among the flood victims, adding that negligence in this regard will not be tolerated.
The chief minister was informed that mosquito nets and chlorination tablets are being provided to the flood victims to prevent them against any epidemic.
Similarly, clean potable water is being provided to the displaced persons through water tankers.
It was revealed at the meeting that the agricultural sector in the province had suffered losses in billions as per initial assessments which are expected to rise once the final survey is completed.
Similarly, more than 1,450 km of roads have been damaged as per the initial assessments.
Additional Chief Secretary, Shahab Ali Shah briefed the participants on district-wise losses in different sectors including losses to human settlements, roads, bridges, schools, health facilities, irrigation channels and agricultural infrastructure.
He added that data is being collected from all the districts through the local administration which can be monitored online.
He revealed that more than 364,000 people were evacuated well in time due to which losses to human lives were reduced significantly.
Similarly, the proactive measures of provincial government, good governance, anti-encroachment drive and the construction of embankments and flood protection walls reduced the damages to a considerable extent which could have been manifold otherwise. The meeting was informed that doctors and allied staff had been made available in all the health facilities in order to look after the medical requirements of the displaced people.
The chief minister was informed that Upper and Lower Dir, Swat, Upper and Lower Kohistan, Charsadda, DI Khan and Tank suffered severe losses while Upper and Lower Chitral, Mansehra and Swabi suffered medium intensity losses.
More than 600,000 people have been displaced as per a careful estimate.
The chief minister directed that the stream of aid from donors and philanthropists should be streamlined in order to ensure efficient and equal distribution of relief items and packages.
Mahmood Khan said that all compensation packages will be provided to the flood affectees as per the new revised rates.
Minister for Finance Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Minister for Labour, Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, Minister for Relief Iqbal Wazir, Minister for Higher Education Kamran Bangash, Special Assistant to CM on Information Barrister Saif and others attended the meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2022.
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