SWABI: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Wednesday gave away compensation cheques to the victims of floods and also announced Rs1 billion relief package for the regions suffered extensive damage during the recent deluge.

According to the revenue department’s damage assessment report, recent floods killed four people, injured seven, damaged 300 buildings, including schools and houses, and destroyed crops on 50,000 acres of land in various regions.

During a visit to the flood-hit areas, the chief minister also announced Rs200 million for repairing the damaged electricity infrastructure.

He visited the worst-affected Tand Koi and other areas of the district. He also addressed a gathering in the area. Members of the families, who lost their loved ones to the floods, were present on the occasion.

Mahmood Khan said Rs1 billion would be duly released for rehabilitating the damaging infrastructure in Swabi. He claimed he did make empty announcements like leaders of other political parties.

He said the provincial government would conduct a survey and in light of it work would be carried out to control floods in future to save both lives and properties of people.

He claimed that announcement by Amir Muqam, the adviser to prime minister on political and public affairs, that Prime Minister Shebhaz Sharif would visit the district, was hollow slogan, which would never happen.

He distributed compensation cheques of Rs800,000 each to the heirs of the deceased persons. The chief minister also announced Rs400,000 to be paid for fully damaged houses, Rs10,000 for per acre damaged crop and Rs160,000 for partially damaged houses.

The chief minister also ordered action against encroachments along the natural waterways.

Speaking on the occasion, provincial minister for elementary and secondary education Shahram Khan Tarakai said chief minister’s visit to the flood-hit regions had boosted the morale of the affected people. He said the government had fulfilled the pledge to help the people of the flood-hit regions.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2022