Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has directed the authorities to deploy additional machinery from other districts to clear flood debris in Swat. He ordered that a detailed survey of damages to public and private infrastructure be completed without delay and that compensation payments to all victims be made immediately.
The chief minister said the provincial government had already released Rs3 billion to the Communication and Works Department and the Relief and Rehabilitation Department for restoration activities and compensation payments. He emphasized ensuring the uninterrupted supply of food, medicines, and other essential items for the flood-affected families.
To prevent future disasters, CM Gandapur announced that a committee under the Swat deputy commissioner, with consultation from elected representatives, will demarcate the riverbanks of the Swat River in line with revenue records. This, he said, will help avert loss of life and property in the event of future floods.
Responding to elected representatives' demand for dividing Swat into two districts, the chief minister said they should first hold mutual consultations and then present feasible proposals to the provincial government.
Earlier, while speaking to media representatives upon his arrival in Swat, Gandapur described the floods as a natural calamity that devastated large areas but praised the timely response of the administration, departments, institutions, and public representatives. "The rescue operation launched was one of the largest in the country's history, and I am proud of it," he remarked.
He acknowledged the heavy toll of the disaster, saying hundreds of lives were lost, many were injured, and properties were destroyed.
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