OUR CORRESPONDENTS
SWAT/BUNER: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan and SAFRON, Engineer Ameer Muqam, visited the flood-hit areas of Swat and Buner where he distributed compensation cheques worth Rs. 2 million each among the affected families, stressing that serving the people is a national obligation that transcends politics. The minister began his tour in Swat, where he, in the presence of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and local administration, handed over financial assistance cheques to the victims. The PML-N leadership of Swat was also in attendance. “The federal government is serving the people without any political bias,” Muqam said, adding that no form of discrimination would be tolerated in the distribution of aid. Later, he proceeded to Buner, one of the hardest-hit regions, where he also distributed compensation cheques and lauded the efforts of local volunteers, welfare organizations, and journalists during the crisis. “I was personally present in Swat during the floods, and the devastation in Buner shook me deeply,” he remarked. Muqam noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir had personally visited the affected areas, drawing international attention and ensuring a swift response. He emphasized that a uniform formula is being applied for compensation, with all decisions taken transparently under district-level registration. “We did not raise party flags; we only stood for humanity,” he said, highlighting that restoration work on roads, electricity, and mobile networks had been initiated immediately, with the NHA, PESCO, and other departments working on a war footing. The minister also drew attention to the plight of hotel owners and assured that genuine victims would receive their due compensation. Citing climate change as a backdrop to such disasters, he called for collective efforts to address the challenges. “My politics revolves around public service, whether someone voted for me or not,” Muqam stated. He reminded the nation that recovery from flood damages is a long-term process requiring coordination among federal, provincial, and district levels. Concluding his address, he said: “Until the rehabilitation is complete, politics must be set aside and humanity placed above all.”
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