BUNER: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during his visit to flood-hit areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday, cautioned that more spells of heavy rain were still expected. Expressing grief over the devastation, he said over 350 people had died in KP alone, while the nationwide death toll had exceeded 700, with many still missing and hundreds injured.
The premier offered condolences to bereaved families, saying the tragedies in South Waziristan and Mansehra had left “every Pakistani with teary eyes.” He announced immediate restoration of roads and bridges within a week, directed that electricity supply be resumed in the same period regardless of bill payments, and pledged seven days of free electricity for flood victims. Relief cheques were also distributed during his visit.
PM Shehbaz criticised the construction of hotels and houses along waterways as a “grave mistake,” adding that deforestation and unchecked mining had worsened the disaster. He stressed strict enforcement of policies to prevent future encroachments. Recalling the catastrophic 2022 floods, he said the government had then disbursed Rs100 billion for rehabilitation and was again mobilising all resources for relief.
He underlined the need for national unity, urging that “there should be no politics in a time of crisis.” Praising KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and the Pakistan Army, he lauded Field Marshal Asim Munir for directing troops to aid flood victims while continuing counter-terrorism efforts.
The prime minister reiterated that Pakistan is among the world’s ten most climate-vulnerable countries, warning of more heavy rains and stressing forest preservation and collective action to mitigate future disasters.
