Speedy relief, compensation for flood victims ordered

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah on Thursday chaired a high-level virtual meeting with deputy commissioners of flood-hit districts to review ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts.

The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Home and Tribal Affairs Abid Majeed, Secretary Finance Amir Sultan Tareen, Secretary Relief Yousaf Rahim, and DG Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Asfandyar Khattak.

District administrations gave detailed briefings on damage assessments and ongoing relief measures. Stressing swift assistance, the Chief Secretary directed deputy commissioners to expedite the enlistment of affected families to ensure early distribution of government financial aid.

He said families who lost their houses require immediate cash transfers, noting that the provincial cabinet has approved a Rs150,000 food stamp package per family, which must be disbursed transparently and without delay. Verification through NADRA should be completed on priority, he added.

Highlighting the need for speedy housing rehabilitation, Shahab Ali Shah said damage assessments of residential structures should be finalized quickly to allow timely release of compensation. He recalled that Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has enhanced the compensation to Rs1 million for fully destroyed houses and Rs300,000 for partially damaged ones.

The Chief Secretary also ordered assessments of losses to livestock, shops, and vehicles. He directed district administrations to guide communities in rebuilding homes in safer zones, away from waterways and landslide-prone areas, to reduce future disaster risks.