PESHAWAR (Aamir Jamil) - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has directed authorities to expedite the disbursement of compensation to flood victims and accelerate the rehabilitation process across affected districts.
Chairing a video-link meeting with officials from flood-hit areas, the Chief Minister reviewed relief and recovery efforts. The meeting was attended by the Finance Advisor, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Relief Secretary, DG PDMA, and Deputy Commissioners of the affected districts.
Officials briefed the meeting that the recent floods claimed 411 lives, with compensation already disbursed to the families of 352 victims. So far, PKR 704 million has been distributed among the bereaved families. Additionally, 60 out of 132 injured have received compensation worth PKR 30 million.
Data collection of damaged homes has also been completed. Compensation has been provided to the owners of 367 fully destroyed houses and 1,094 partially damaged houses. In total, PKR 595 million has been distributed for housing losses, with the remaining payments expected within the next two days. Moreover, 29,631 food packages have been delivered to affected families.
CM Gandapur instructed officials to initiate rehabilitation immediately after completing compensation payments. He emphasized that Deputy Commissioners must personally oversee the restoration of damaged infrastructure.
He further directed that PC-1s should be prepared in the field rather than in offices. A one-time major project will also be launched for desilting rivers, clearing water channels, and constructing protective embankments.
Deputy Commissioners were ordered to compile water flow records spanning the last 40 years in their districts and carry out indiscriminate operations to remove encroachments along waterways and drains.
The Chief Minister also called for renovation of destroyed schools and health centers, along with urgent measures to prevent the spread of potential epidemics.
Commending the swift response of the civil administration during the emergency, Gandapur noted that such efficiency was unprecedented in the country’s history and urged the same spirit for the rehabilitation phase.