ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Wednesday visited flood-affected districts in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where recent flash floods and cloudbursts have caused widespread devastation.
The prime minister, accompanied by federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Attaullah Tarar and Amir Muqam. He was received by Amir Muqam in Swat before proceeding to Buner.
Officials said both the prime minister and the army chief conducted an aerial survey of Buner and Shangla to assess the extent of damage.
During the visit, Prime Minister Sharif met survivors and distributed relief cheques. He assured affected families of full government support, saying all available resources would be mobilised for rehabilitation.
“Encroachments, the timber mafia, and especially illegal mining and crushing in waterways are major causes of human casualties and damage. Strict legal action will be taken against those responsible,” he told victims in Buner.
Addressing a ceremony after distributing relief goods, the prime minister expressed solidarity with those impacted by the floods.
He said that over 350 lives had been lost in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone, while many others were injured or missing.
“The government and Pakistan Army are fully committed to extending every possible assistance to the people in this difficult time,” PM Sharif said.
Field Marshal Munir also interacted with army personnel, police, and civil administration staff engaged in rescue and relief operations.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief praised their “selfless dedication” and directed formations on the ground to spare no effort in alleviating the hardships of flood-stricken families.
On Tuesday, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, ISPR Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider briefed the media on the scale of the disaster.
The NDMA reported that 670 people had died nationwide, including 427 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the dead included 321 men, 60 children and 46 women.
At least 270 people were reported injured in the province.
The NDMA Chairman said around 25,000 people had been rescued since 17 August, but warned of further heavy rains expected until 23 August.
He noted that half of the damaged road network had been restored.
The DG ISPR stated that army aviation, medical teams, and engineering units were deployed across affected areas.
“Over 6,000 people have been provided medical aid, while doctors from medical battalions and Combined Military Hospitals have been sent to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” Lt Gen Chaudhry said.
He added that 90 roads had been destroyed and several bridges rebuilt, with ration supplies delivered by road and helicopter.
Information Minister Tarar confirmed that 25,000 people had been relocated to safer areas.
He said the electricity supply in the province, which was severely disrupted, had been restored up to 70 percent. Relief operations, including tents, medical teams and road repairs, were continuing.
Meanwhile, rescue teams in the Swabi district recovered 29 bodies in the Dalori area, where flash floods had swept away homes.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Army helicopters delivered rations and other supplies to Buner, Swat and Shangla, while engineers cleared debris from blocked roads.
The Pakistan Army has established medical camps in the affected districts to provide timely healthcare facilities to the affected communities.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast further rainfall across most of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Peshawar, Swat, Chitral, Mansehra, Abbottabad and the tribal districts, over the next 24 hours.
