PESHAWAR: On Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gave the relevant authorities instructions to make sure that homeowners in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) who have had their homes damaged by rain or snowfall receive compensation by March 11.
The orders were given by the prime minister during a high-level meeting to assess rescue and rehabilitation activities as well as the damages brought about by the recent rains and snowfall in K-P. The meeting was held at the Governor House.
Senator Ishaq Dar, Members of the National Assembly Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Attaullah Tarar, Engineers Amir Muqam and Murtaza Javed Abbasi, and Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik, Chairman of the National Disasters Management Authority (NDMA), were among those present at the meeting.
A thorough briefing on the actions done by the National Highway Authority, Provincial Disaster Management Authority, NDMA, and provincial government was also provided to the prime minister.
It was reported that the rain-related incidents throughout the province resulted in 40 deaths and 62 injuries. In a similar vein, 635 homes suffered full or partial damage.
In addition to Rs700,000 for entirely damaged and Rs350,000 for partially damaged properties, compensation of Rs2 million apiece to the heirs of each deceased person and Rs 500,000 to each injured person was being provided on the prime minister’s orders.
It was also told that while efforts to clear landslides and snow continued, all major roadways in the impacted areas were only partially opened.
It was reported to the meeting that every department was equipped to handle any emergency that could occur from the anticipated snowfall during the next few days.
The prime minister declared that the federal government stood by the K-P residents who were impacted during their difficult time and would offer them all the assistance possible.
He gave the go-ahead for all pertinent departments and organisations to participate in the relief and reconstruction efforts in the impacted areas.
In order to expedite the completion of the rescue and restoration activities, he also instructed the NDMA to work in tandem with the district and provincial administrations, taking all necessary steps.
Afterwards, the prime minister gave rain-related victims checks and assistance. He gave checks totaling Rs. 2 million to each deceased person’s heirs and Rs. 500,000 to each person hurt in the recent floods and excessive rains that affected several districts in the province, including combined tribal districts.
