Peshawar: Awami National Party (ANP) Central President Senator Aimal Wali Khan on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the widespread destruction caused by recent heavy rains and flooding in Chitral.
He said that infrastructure in both Upper and Lower Chitral has been severely damaged, while Upper Chitral has been cut off from the rest of the region due to disrupted road links and bridge destruction.
Aimal Wali Khan stated that residents of the affected areas are facing extremely difficult conditions and criticized the provincial government for failing to take effective measures to address the crisis.
He said flood victims are struggling without access to clean drinking water, while irrigation systems and agricultural water sources have also been damaged, leaving thousands of families in distress. He stressed that the government’s top priority should be to provide immediate relief and restore essential services.
The ANP leader called on the government to declare Chitral and all other flood-affected areas as disaster-hit zones to enable emergency relief and rehabilitation efforts. He also demanded a transparent and comprehensive damage assessment, the announcement of special grants for affected districts and the swift restoration of damaged roads, bridges, drinking water supplies, and irrigation infrastructure.
Aimal Wali Khan emphasized that natural disasters require humanitarian action rather than political point-scoring. He urged the provincial government to move beyond symbolic announcements and take practical steps to provide effective relief to affected families. He added that the Awami National Party stands with the flood victims and supports every possible effort for their rehabilitation.