Staff Report
PESHAWAR: Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shahab Ali Shah here on Tuesday chaired a weekly review meeting with a special focus on relief measures in flood-affected districts.
The meeting was attended by secretaries of various departments and officials concerned while deputy commissioners of the affected districts participated via video link.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) control room officials briefed the meeting on the human and financial losses caused by the floods and the relief measures taken so far.
It was informed that financial compensation was being disbursed to the victims, and data of 4,398 affected families from 15 districts had been shared with Jazz Cash for the transfer of PKR 15,000 to each family.
Appreciating the performance of PDMA, the Chief Secretary emphasized the need to further simplify and streamline the relief process. The meeting was also informed that the Communication and Works Department (C&W) had completed its survey of damages to roads caused by the floods.
The Chief Secretary noted that while one spell of recent rains had safely passed, another was still expected, and directed the district administrations and concerned institutions to remain vigilant in order to avert any possible damage. In view of the risk of urban flooding in Abbottabad, the meeting also decided to launch a large-scale operation against encroachments.
In addition to flood-related matters, governance issues were also discussed in detail. The Chief Secretary expressed strong displeasure over constructions obstructing the natural flow of water, directing that disciplinary action be taken against tehsil municipal officers found negligent in this regard. The Land Use and Building Control Authority was instructed to issue NOCs only after thorough scrutiny, while all NOCs on which construction had not yet started were ordered to be suspended immediately.
The meeting also reviewed the action plan for promoting a cashless economy. According to the plan, three services under Government-to-Person (G2P) payments would be digitized by September 15, 2025, while ten essential services under Government-to-Government (G2G) transactions would be digitized by October 30, 2025. The Chief Secretary underlined that transitioning to a cashless system had become inevitable in line with modern requirements, with the twin objectives of strengthening the financial system and improving citizens’ access to public services.
The Secretary Food briefed the meeting on the prices of flour and other essential commodities. The Tourism Department informed the forum about progress on an end-to-end plan for solid waste management at tourist sites. Strict measures were also being taken to improve sewage and drainage systems of hotels and restaurants at tourist spots, including inspections, fines, and even sealing of non-compliant establishments.
The meeting further reviewed the progress on major development projects under the Peshawar Development Authority, including the improvement of GT Road and Ring Road, the Peshawar Beautification Plan, and the missing link of the Northern Section of Ring Road.
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