Rehabilitation kicks off in flood-hit areas

KDA official says infrastructure in Manor Valley badly damaged by floods

BALAKOT:

Restoration work on the infrastructure of Balakot's flood-affected Manor Valley and Mahandri has begun.

Commissioner Hazara Mutahir Zaib said that the basic infrastructure of Manor Valley was badly damaged by the flood however with immediate efforts, it has been restored temporarily.

He spoke at an event held to distribute essential items among the flood-affected people on Wednesday.

Zaib added that the floods destroyed the electricity system in Manor valley and deprived residents of electricity for a long period of time. However, when solar panels were supplied, houses lit up again.

The Kaghan Development Authority (KDA), in collaboration with various charitable institutions, would immediately install zip lines in place of the destroyed temporary bridges on various rivers to restore the broken transportation and communication system in the valley.

The initiatives will help to restore the main highway to ensure smooth flow of traffic during the recent rains and floods that hit the valley at the peak of the tourist season. Moreover, the chairman and director general KDA provided two large size tents for two primary schools and Madrassas destroyed by the flood so that the children could continue their education without wasting time.

A prize distribution ceremony was also organized for the KDA officials who performed well and safely evacuated the tourists and locals during the torrential rains and floods in the valley.

Talking to the media, KDA chairman said that many friends from inside the country and abroad have trusted the authority with their donations for the flood victims.

All the donations received by the KDA would be distributed among the victims with the cooperation of the district administration, he added. He said that financial assistance had been provided to the families of the deceased and injured while the affectees who did not receive the assistance would be compensated in the next phase. "The recent destruction in the region was triggered due to climate change, and we also have to play our role so that such incidents can be avoided in the future, he added.

Importance of sports

Active involvement in sports can help keep youth away from all kinds of immoral activities, said Special Assistant to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Population Welfare Syed Ahmed Hussain Shah.

"We need to pay more attention to education, health, and sports to promote a moral and healthy society. A mini stadium will also be constructed for the youth in Balakot," he added while speaking as a special guest at the final ceremony of the Al-Pakistan Martyrs Balakot Volleyball Tournament in Balakot recently.

He said that at the time when he was in power, he worked on the promotion of education, health, employment, and sports on a priority basis for the people of his constituency.

He said that he was able to establish 44 primary middle high and higher secondary schools including four colleges during his tenure and even this year, a second shift class began in 70 primary middle high, and higher secondary schools so that students could work along with their studies.

He further said that the tender for the mini-stadium for the youth of Balakot has been approved, and soon its construction will begin. Moreover, an astroturf will also be laid in this stadium for the promotion of hockey along with other sports. Similarly, work on the headquarters hospital in the field of health is going on in full swing.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th, 2022.