Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan and SAFRON, Engineer Amir Muqam, on Wednesday distributed compensation cheques worth Rs2 million each among families affected by recent floods in Swat and Buner, declaring that public service is a national duty beyond political affiliation.
The minister began his visit in Swat, where, in the presence of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) officials, local administration, and PML-N leadership, he handed over financial assistance to flood-hit families.
Muqam reiterated that the federal government is serving people without political discrimination. "No form of bias will be tolerated in the distribution of relief," he emphasized.
Later, addressing a gathering in Buner, one of the worst-affected districts, the minister also handed out compensation cheques while commending the role of local volunteers, welfare organizations, and journalists in relief efforts. "I personally witnessed the devastation in Swat, but the destruction in Buner shook me even more deeply," he said.
Highlighting the federal government's immediate response, Muqam noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir personally visited the affected areas, which not only drew international attention but also accelerated aid and rehabilitation.
He stressed that a transparent, uniform formula was being followed for compensation, with district-level registration ensuring fairness. "We did not raise party flags; we stood only for humanity," he remarked. The minister added that restoration work on roads, electricity, and mobile networks had been launched on an emergency basis with NHA, PESCO, and other departments working round the clock.
Muqam also addressed concerns of hotel owners and other local stakeholders, assuring that all genuine victims would be compensated. He linked the recurring disasters to climate change and called for collective national action to tackle its challenges.
"My politics is rooted in public service, whether someone voted for me or not," he asserted. The minister underlined that recovery from such calamities is a long-term effort requiring coordinated measures at federal, provincial, and district levels.
Concluding his address, Muqam said, "Until rehabilitation is complete, politics must be set aside and humanity placed above all."
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