SWAT – In the flood-ravaged regions of Swat and Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has announced a pioneering initiative to deploy modern technologies aimed at mitigating the risk of mudslides and debris-laden floods. During a high-level meeting in Saidu Sharif, attended by senior provincial officials and legislators, the Chief Minister underscored the necessity of forward-looking solutions to counter climate-induced disasters.
Mr. Gandapur revealed that the provincial government has launched comprehensive surveying and danger-mapping operations across vulnerable zones. Drawing on advanced systems already tested in countries like Switzerland and India, the program will utilise geotechnical sensors, early-warning systems, and structural reinforcement techniques. These efforts are intended to restrict damage by equipping authorities and communities with timely alerts and erosion control mechanisms.
Underlining the human cost of the recent floods, the Chief Minister expressed sympathy for affected families and pledged full compensation for both financial and material losses. He emphasised that relocation support would be provided for reconstruction efforts, ensuring new structures are built in more secure locations away from high-risk zones.
The Chief Minister also cited unchecked encroachments as a major contributor to the floods’ heightened impact—irregular settlements along waterways hinder natural water flow and worsen disaster outcomes. He assured the public that removal of such encroachments will proceed fairly and without discrimination, citing successful operations conducted in Dera Ismail Khan and plans to extend similar action in Swat.
He further highlighted the province’s improved financial footing, observing that the government’s endowment fund has grown significantly since his administration took office. This strengthened fiscal position, he asserted, ‘eliminates the need for emergency foreign aid’ and ensures that relief and restoration can be managed through domestic resources. The administration is now mobilising restoration of roads, power lines, and healthcare facilities in affected areas.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.