Govt scales up relief operations in KP flood-hit districts

August 18, 2025 (MLN): The federal government has intensified relief operations in flood-affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is personally monitoring the efforts of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and directing the swift mobilization of additional resources.

Under the Prime Minister’s Relief Package, trucks carrying food rations, tents, and medicines are being dispatched to the worst-affected districts, where federal ministers have been assigned to supervise distribution.

 Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Engineer Amir Muqam is overseeing operations in Shangla and Buner, the Power Division Minister in Buner, Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Yousaf in Mansehra, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Mubarak Zeb in Bajaur.

The Prime Minister has instructed the NDMA Chairman to maintain constant coordination with provincial disaster management authorities and Gilgit-Baltistan to ensure a unified national response.

The Pakistan Army, alongside NGOs and other government agencies, is also actively engaged in relief activities.

Beyond immediate relief, officials noted that the government is prioritizing an integrated disaster response framework to mitigate the economic and social costs of recurrent climate shocks.

Frequent flooding not only devastates infrastructure and livelihoods but also places heavy fiscal pressure on the government through unplanned expenditures on relief and rehabilitation.

Recurring floods underscore the need for enhanced investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, better floodplain management, and early warning systems.

Strengthening NDMA’s institutional capacity and aligning relief strategies with long-term climate adaptation policies will be critical to reducing losses, protecting vulnerable communities, and sustaining economic stability.

Pakistan, among the most climate-vulnerable countries, has repeatedly suffered multibillion-dollar losses from extreme weather events, including the 2022 floods that caused damage estimated at over $30 billion.

 Experts argue that proactive policy measures, coupled with international climate financing, are essential for building resilience and reducing the fiscal burden of disaster response.

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