PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah on Monday said the operations against encroachments across the province, especially to clear waterways, would continue.

He also ordered river boundary demarcation in the province to prevent the reconstruction of unauthorised structures.

He issued those orders while chairing a meeting on governance and emergency preparedness, according to an official statement issued here.

The participants, including senior officials from the relevant departments, made decisions to improve response times during emergencies, especially in case of heavy rainfall and flash floods.

Chief secy says crackdown on encroachments to clear waterways will continue

Mr Shah said that the provincial government was working on acquiring modern equipment such as drones, which would enable the delivery of lifejackets and other essential supplies to people in emergencies, while swift response to floods was a top priority.

He said that mock drills would be conducted regularly to enhance the operational capabilities of rescue personnel, and necessary safety measures were being ensured in flood-prone areas.

The chief secretary said that special attention was also being given to the strengthening of the early flood warning system.

“Efforts are under way to train and prepare local communities for emergency response, enabling a quicker and more effective reaction,” he said.

Mr Shah instructed the relevant departments to ensure their presence at identified hotspot areas and said that recruitment in Rescue 1122 must be conducted “purely on merit, with zero tolerance for negligence.”

He directed all divisional commissioners to regularly review flood response plans and said Section 144 would be strictly enforced around rivers.

The chief secretary said that awareness campaigns were being conducted to prevent people from approaching vulnerable areas.

The meeting was informed that hotels in tourist destinations were being instructed to have emergency equipment such as boats, ropes and lifejackets to ensure rapid response to any emergency.

The chief secretary instructed the tourism department to issue regular travel advisories for tourists.

He said that no construction near riverbanks should be allowed without the approval of the Land Use and Building Control Authority, which would thoroughly evaluate all aspects of construction plans before issuing NOCs.

The meeting was informed that a review of all previously issued NOCs for construction on riverbeds was under way, while strict action would be taken against officials responsible for “unauthorised” NOCs.

The managing director of the IT Board highlighted the development of a mobile app, “Relief Pulse,” aimed at digitising the emergency warning system.

He said that 147 irrigation gauges were being integrated into a central dashboard, and mapping of hotels in high-risk areas was in progress.

The official said social media would also be actively used for issuing alert messages, while a real-time flood monitoring dashboard and an SMS alert system for the public were being developed.

The meeting decided that the office of the additional deputy commissioner (relief) would serve as the first responder during any emergency.

Officials also briefed participants on price control measures and presented a comparative analysis of food prices.

They said that the government had launched an environmental protection and cleanliness drive in tourist areas.

Officials said since May 27, out of 393 hotels and restaurants inspected, 224 had upgraded their sewage and drainage systems, while action was ongoing against others.

The meeting also reviewed progress on the annual development programme, Peshawar Development Authority, Land Use and Building Control Authority, and procurement reforms.

Meanwhile, an anti-encroachment drive along the Swat River continued on the second day on Monday, with the government machinery reaching the Fizagat area.

Several illegal structures along the river, including parts of a private park, foundation of a former governor’s town, and other illegal structures were demolished.

In the presence of a heavy police contingent, the operation was carried out from Bypass to Fizagat, destroying the riverside markets, shops and constructions.

Also, the administration of Lower Dir district launched an operation against encroachments on the banks of Panjkora River in Timergara. During the action carried out on the instructions of the chief secretary, illegal buildings and famous restaurants constructed along rivers, streams and watercourses were pulled down.

Under the supervision of assistant commissioner Zaid Safi, officials from the irrigation department and tehsil municipal administration initiated an action to remove unlawful structures along the Panjkora River using heavy machinery.

Also, four restaurants were sealed by the TMA over their failure to produce no objection certificates.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2025