PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Friday spent a second consecutive day in Swat and inspected the ravages of heavy rains and floods, and relief and rehabilitation activities.

He visited the calamity-hit areas, including Madain, Chahel, Shagram, Bahrain, Tirat and Sukhra and issued directions for the rehabilitation of the people.

Mr Mahmood also sympathised with the families of the people, who lost life to flooding.

On arrival, the chief minister was given a detailed presentation on the damages caused by floods and the subsequent rehabilitation activities in Madhain area.

Orders removal of encroachments from Swat River, waterways

He ordered the formation of a committee to remove encroachments from the Swat River and other places, including waterways. The relevant departments were quick to act accordingly.

Mr Mahmood said the Bahrain Bridge should be rebuilt with modern design.

He later told reporters that the government would go all-out for the rehabilitation of affected areas.

The chief minister sought a detailed and complete assessment of flood damages in Swat by today (Saturday).

He said the government had initiated record activities to restore and rehabilitate damaged roads, water supply schemes and other facilities in the calamity-hit areas.

Mr Mahmood said he had roots in the people and won’t play to the gallery.

He said he was visiting the affected areas to assess the flood damages and would also visit Chitral, Shangla, Kohistan and other areas.

The chief minister said deforestation was the major cause of floods and the plantation programmes would save forests and bring areas on a large scale under forest cover.

He said those talking about decline in the ruling PTI’s popularity were wrong as had they been right, the party would have not completed its five years term in the province and formed the next governments in the province and centre after clinching most seats in the provincial assembly.

The chief minister said the PTI would stay in power even after the next elections due to its good performance.

He said his government had redirected economy for rapid growth.

Mr Mahmood said the Swat Motorway had been completed in the short span of two years, while the Peshawar-DI Khan Expressway would be constructed for southern districts.

He said gas pipelines would be laid in Swat, while the Swat Motorway-II would be built.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2020