STAFF REPORT
PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has given concerned quarters a six-day deadline to ensure payment of all compensations to flood-affected families in relevant districts. He issued these directives while chairing a video-link meeting on Monday, which reviewed district-wise progress on relief disbursements. The meeting was attended by Advisor on Finance Muzammil Aslam, Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Secretary Relief, DG PDMA, and deputy commissioners of flood-hit districts. The Chief Minister directed that payments to the heirs of deceased persons, the injured, and owners of damaged houses and shops must be completed by the coming Sunday. He stressed that compensation procedures should be accelerated, and workable mechanisms must be devised for children of deceased persons who do not have CNICs or bank accounts. Additional health teams were also ordered to be deployed for speedy verification of the injured, while compensation must also be provided to families of missing persons. The Chief Minister directed the concerned officials to complete the verification of damaged houses and shops without delay and to collect data on houses destroyed along waterways. He further directed that owners of such homes be engaged for relocation to safer sites. He also directed for payment of financial assistance of Rs 100,000 per household for cleaning houses inundated by floodwaters and debris. He directed the Finance Department to immediately release Rs 5 billion to PDMA for disbursements and rehabilitation efforts. He also instructed that displaced families from Bajaur should be given cash payments instead of non-food items. Officials briefing the meeting informed that so far 406 deaths and 247 injuries have been confirmed. Compensation of Rs 2 million each has been paid to the heirs of 332 deceased persons, while payments of Rs 500,000 each to injured persons have started with 35 cases settled so far. Authorities apprised that 28 people are still missing. Out of 5,720 affected families, 4,398 have received food package payments. In Bajaur, 9,698 displaced individuals were provided food assistance. Regarding infrastructure losses, officials said 598 houses were completely destroyed and 2,971 partially damaged. Compensation has already begun, with 43 households receiving payments. Floods also damaged 526 link roads, 106 bridges, 326 schools, 38 health centers, 67 government offices, and 2,808 shops. Compensation to shopkeepers will begin once damage assessments are finalized. The Chief Minister emphasized that the compensation process must be completed within the set timeframe to expedite rehabilitation. He assured that there is no shortage of funds for the purpose, and stressed transparency and strict monitoring in the utilization of resources.
