KHYBER: Traders and businessmen in the Bagh-Markaz Malakdinkhel area of Tirah valley here have complained about a long delay in the payment of compensation for the losses they suffered due to flash floods and mortar shelling in recent months.

Tirah Traders Union president Haji Sher Mohammad told Dawn that at least ten shops in the Bagh-Markaz main bazaar of the valley were completely destroyed due to a fire caused by two mortar shells, which hit the market on August 12 and Nov 17 during a military operation against suspected militants.

He said that eight more shops were damaged in the two mortar shell attacks, while 21 other shops and kiosks along with a vehicle were washed away by flash floods on July 22, causing losses to the tune of millions of rupees to local traders.

The trader leader said that from August when the flash floods hit the region to the last mortar attack took place on Nov 17, he along with his cabinet and local elder held a number of meetings with both administrative and security officials, and approached elected representatives, but no heed had been paid to their legitimate demands for adequate compensation.

Say suffered huge losses from flash floods, mortar shelling

He said that though normalcy had partially returned to the valley, the commercial activities had yet to pick up momentum as local traders were not compensated for their losses as they had lost most of their capital and trading items along with their shops badly damaged in the three incidents.

Mr Mohammad demanded of the Peshawar corps commander, Frontier Corps inspector general, chief minister, and Peshawar commissioner to intervene for speedy payment of compensation.

Meanwhile, hundreds of families displaced from Nangrosa, Sheikhmali Baba, Dray Wandy, Kandaw Jumaat, Speen Drand and Sandana areas in Upper Bara region have complained about the failure of authorities to hold a damage assessment survey even two years after their return to homes.

Masan Khan of Landi Kalay told Dawn that almost 90 per cent of their houses were in need of reconstruction and repair but they could not carry out the necessary repair as they would then lose the right to get compensation after the survey was conducted.

He said with the winter season setting in, the families were at the risk of being hit hard by the extreme cold weather with no proper medical facilities available to them due to negligence of the government.

On the other hand, over 300 families from Sanda Pal, Khapur, Ghulam Ali, Kandaw Kalay, Jarrobi, Dwa Khulay, Dray Naghari and Bagh-i-Haram villages were provided with tents, blankets, pillows, foams and hygiene kits by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority after one year of their displacement from their homes situated mostly in Kamarkhel, Sipag, Zakhakhel and Akkakhel areas of Tirah valley.

The families left their houses in November last year due to the launch of a military operation, with officials promising their early return.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2024