PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has said that the provincial government has approved additional funds of Rs2.5 billion for carrying out relief and rehabilitation activities in the flood-hit areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and if needed more funds would also be provided for the purpose.

In a statement issued here from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Mr Khan said that the assessment of damage caused by the recent flash floods was under way and immediate steps would be taken soon after its completion for the rehabilitation of the damaged infrastructure.

He said that in the first phase relief items had been provided to the flood-affected people whereas in the second phase the provincial government would use all available resources to rehabilitate them as soon as possible.

The chief minister stated that the emergency had been extended up to Sept 30 for carrying out rescue, relief and rehabilitation activities. He said that he himself was monitoring the entire operation and visiting the flood-hit districts to assess the damage there.

Keeping in view the difficulties and losses of flood affected-people, the government has also increased the compensation package.

Mahmood Khan said that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government would stand by the affected people in these difficult times.

“It has become evident that some people have turned this natural catastrophe into an advertising campaign which is playing with the emotions of the flood-hit people,” he said.

The chief minister said that rehabilitation activities had been initiated in various flood-stricken districts and it would be ensured to repatriate maximum people in a minimum possible time.

He added that most of the damage had been caused due to illegal constructions on riverbanks. He warned that strict action would be taken against illegal constructions and encroachments on waterways and riverbanks in order to avoid possible damage in case of floods in future.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2022