SWABI: The federal government is mindful of the difficulties confronted by the people of flood-hit regions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and is trying to provide them with financial assistance without delay.

This was stated by federal minister for parliamentary affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi while addressing a compensation cheque distribution ceremony at the Shahmansoor Police Lines here on Tuesday.

The minister also gave away compensation cheques to flood-hit people in Tand Koi. National Assembly Deputy Speaker Zahid Akram Durrani was also present on the occasion.

Mr Abbasi said that adviser to prime minister on political affairs Amir Muqam had already visited different regions to review the devastation caused by floods and provide relief to the affected people.

He said that he would also appeal to Prime Minister Shebhaz Sharif to visit Swabi, which was the worst-hit. He said that the prime minister had directed the authorities concerned to ensure timely disbursement of compensation assistance to the flood-hit people.

“The compensation amount for the flood-hit people has been increased,” he said. He said excessive rains and resultant flooding had caused a loss of precious lives and also badly damaged infrastructure, especially in Balochistan, adding that the federal government was committed to providing all the required assistance to the flood-hit people.

Nr Abbasi said that the federal government had expedited the relief and rehabilitation work and was monitoring activities of the agencies involved.

Speaking on the occasion, Zahid Akram Durrani said that the downpours had badly damaged the standing crops. He said that the affected farmers would be fully compensated for their losses.

He said that the federal government had taken result-oriented steps for economic revival of the country.

Maulana Fazal Ali, the JUI-F deputy chief, said that the KP government had failed to take measures to mitigate the suffering of the flood-hit people.

Iftikhar Ahmad Khan, PML-N divisional vice-president, and Shiraz Khan, the party’s Swabi district president, also attended the cheque distribution ceremony.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2022