CHITRAL: The district administration has ramped up relief operations and medical supplies in Arandu following recent skirmishes and sporadic shelling along the Pak-Afghan border.

Lower Chitral deputy commissioner Rao Hashim Azim informed reporters here on Monday that a health emergency had been declared across all health facilities to ensure uninterrupted services while as part of the immediate response, two Rescue 1122 ambulances had been permanently stationed at the Rural Health Centre, Arandu.

To facilitate the evacuation of displaced residents and the injured, the administration has hired three private vehicles, currently positioned at Akroi and Arandu, to transport people to Drosh, he said.

Regarding food and shelter, Mr Azim stated that 100 food packages had been prepared, with 20 already dispatched to families migrating from Zero Point, Arandu.

“A temporary shelter has been made functional at a government school in Akroi, where cooked meals are being provided, while the education training centre in Drosh has also been designated as a relief camp,” he said.

As a safety precaution, all schools in the affected border areas will remain closed until the security situation normalises, he said.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2026