DND Report
Natural disasters such as flash floods and cloudbursts occur globally, but the critical factor lies in how the state manages these crises. A state’s ability to respond effectively depends on its civil administration—an essential component responsible for managing civilian affairs.
What happened in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) over the past week once again exposed the apathy of the civil administration in the face of disaster. This was not merely a natural catastrophe; it was, to a large extent, a man-made disaster. Mountains were stripped of trees, riverbanks were encroached upon, and waterways (nullahs) were filled in and built over. The civil administration failed to act as people were trapped by severe flooding—until the Pakistan Army intervened without hesitation, rescuing those at risk of death.
Related Story: Floods in KP are PTI-Made and Wrath of Nature
KP’s civil bureaucracy has become dysfunctional, its confidence shattered by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, which has been in power in the province for three consecutive terms. Courage and confidence are two essential qualities every administrator must possess to exercise authority and fulfill responsibility—both have long been missing in KP’s civil administration.
In recent days, natural disasters—heavy rains, cloudbursts, landslides, and floods—have brought severe hardship to the people of KP, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and other northern areas. In these desperate times, the Pakistan Army once again emerged as a beacon of hope.
Demonstrating duty, sacrifice, and diligence, the Army launched rescue operations in the affected areas. Soldiers, risking their own lives, evacuated people from destroyed homes, relocated them to safer places, and set up emergency relief camps.
Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir issued immediate instructions for the rehabilitation of flood-affected people in KP—further proof that the Pakistan Army is not just a military force, but a national service and protection institution. Additional troops were deployed, the Corps of Engineers was tasked with rebuilding bridges and constructing temporary ones, and comprehensive arrangements were made for food, medicine, and shelter.
The Pakistan Army donated over 600 tons of its one-day rations to flood victims. Additionally, soldiers contributed a day’s salary toward rehabilitation efforts. In life-threatening conditions, lives were saved using helicopters, sniffer dogs, rescue teams, and urban search and rescue units. These Army initiatives were not mere symbolism—they sent a clear and powerful message: the Pakistan Army stands with the nation, whether in war or in the face of natural disasters.
Whenever disaster strikes, the silent heroes of the Army remind us that defending the homeland isn’t just about borders—it includes standing with the nation in every hour of need. Once again, the Army has proven that it is not only a shield against external threats but also a partner in the nation’s sorrows. Their spirit of service, sacrifice, and humanity is Pakistan’s true strength.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, more than 150 people have died and dozens more have been injured in districts such as Buner, Bajaur, Lower Dir, Swat, Battagram, and Mansehra due to floods, rains, and landslides. Homes were destroyed, bridges washed away, and roads rendered impassable.
All of this resulted from a natural disaster—but was it only the rain that claimed these lives? Or should we also blame poor planning and failed governance?
Rain, cloudbursts, and landslides occur across the world. Yet, in many other regions, the impact is far less devastating. The key difference lies in governance—through effective planning, early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, and a well-coordinated emergency response, lives can be saved.
The pressing question is: What has the decade-long PTI government delivered to the people of this province? Over such a long tenure, the party had ample opportunity to strengthen disaster management systems, modernize the PDMA, regulate deforestation, maintain stormwater drains, develop mountain drainage systems, build embankments, and establish emergency response infrastructure.
Instead, PTI focused on political conflict, power struggles, and corruption.
PTI won elections on the promise of change and eliminating corruption. Yet, the same government shut down the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Accountability Commission. Major corruption allegations—including the Malam Jabba scandal, the BRT debacle, and questions surrounding the Billion Tree Tsunami project—surfaced, but no action was taken.
Had the energy spent on vilifying political opponents been directed toward improving governance, perhaps hundreds of lives could have been saved.
This disaster has made it clear that the KP government lacked both an effective disaster response system and adequate infrastructure. There were no timely alerts, no organized volunteer networks, and no functional rescue mechanisms at the district level. In most cases, it was the Pakistan Army and local citizens who carried out rescue operations, while the provincial government stood by as a silent observer.
Areas like Bajaur, Battagram, and Swat face recurring disasters, yet no lasting solutions have been implemented. The recent loss of lives is a tragic result of failed governance—and demands serious accountability.
In KP, governance has collapsed across all sectors—education, health, economy, infrastructure—while political polarization and nepotism continue to thrive.
