Pakistan forecasts more rains as deaths in northwest rise to 323 since Aug. 15
ISLAMABAD: The death toll from this week’s torrential rains and flooding in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province has risen to 323 since Aug. 15, the KP Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Sunday, as federal authorities forecast more rains over the next 24 hours.
The cumulative death toll from rain-related incidents in Pakistan has surged to 657 since late June, when the monsoon rains first began in the country, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Apart from KP, 164 fatalities have been reported in Punjab, 32 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 28 in Sindh, 20 in Balochistan, 15 in Azad Kashmir and eight in the federal capital of Islamabad.
Raging hill torrents flattened several homes and swept away dozens of people in KP’s Swat, Buner, Bajaur, Torghar, Mansehra, Shangla and Battagram districts on Friday. Officials said several bodies were found on Sunday in the worst-hit Buner district.
“So far, 323 people have died and 156 people have been injured in various accidents due to rains and flash floods in the province,” the KP PDMA said on Sunday night.
“The deceased include 273 men, 29 women and 21 children, while the injured include 123 men, 23 women and 10 children.”
The rains, cloudbursts and deluges have damaged a total of 336 houses since Aug. 15, according to the PDMA report. Of these, 106 were completely destroyed. A total of 209 people have been displaced in Buner district, the most affected by Friday’s cloudburst and subsequent floods.
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Sunday visited Buner, where he promised survivors compensation for their financial losses, urging residents of disaster-prone areas to relocate from there.
“The data of all the losses is being compiled,” CM Gandapur told reporters in Buner. “It is beyond our power to compensate the loss of lives, but we will compensate financial losses, damages to private property.”
Several people were still missing and search efforts were focused on areas where homes were flattened by water torrents that swept down from the mountains, carrying massive boulders that smashed into houses like explosions.
The NDMA has forecast more “heavy to very heavy rainfall” in parts of the country over the next 24 hours, particularly in Islamabad, KP, Punjab and Azad Kashmir, under the current weather system.
“Heavy to very heavy rainfall/thunderstorms are expected in Islamabad over the next 24 hours with occasional gaps. Most parts of Punjab will see widespread rainfall/thunderstorms. Districts in the Potohar and northeastern parts, including Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat, Narowal, Hafizabad, and Mandi Bahauddin, are expected to face heavy to very heavy rainfall, increasing the chances of urban flooding,” it said on Sunday evening.
“Northern and upper KP districts, including Swat, Buner, Shangla, Dir, Mansehra, Battagram, Abbottabad, and Malakand, are expected to witness heavy spells, with flash floods and landslides possible in hilly terrain over the next 24 hours. The Peshawar valley, covering Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, and Swabi, will see scattered thunderstorms.”
In Azad Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Bagh, Haveli, Kotli, Mirpur and Bhimber are expected to receive heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, which may trigger landslides and flash flooding, particularly in hilly areas, according to the authority.
Isolated rainfall is expected in Gilgit, Skardu, Hunza, Ghizer, Diamer, Astore, Ghanche, and Shigar. Rainfall may cause debris flows, landslides, or local flooding in valleys. The southern province of Sindh and Balochistan may receive light to moderate rainfall.
The monsoon season brings South Asia about three-quarters of its annual rainfall, vital for agriculture and food security, but also brings destruction.
“The intensity of this year’s monsoon is around 50 to 60 percent more than last year,” NDMA chief Lt. Gen. Inam Haider told journalists in Islamabad on Sunday.
“Two to three more monsoon spells are expected until the first weeks of September.”
Pakistan is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change and is contending with extreme weather events with increasing frequency. Monsoon floods in 2022 submerged a third of the country and killed around 1,700 people.
IT remains to be seen whether the recent surge in Pakistan-US relations is a reflection of Islamabad’s strategy to reduce the trust deficit between the two countries or Washington’s move, driven by broader geopolitical considerations.
This deficit was caused mainly by the two countries’ differing approaches to Afghanistan, as well as Pakistan’s enthusiasm for CPEC and its projection that China could serve as an alternative to the US. Recently, Pakistan has opened new avenues for cooperation by quietly enhancing its counterterrorism support to Washington. The latest CT dialogue held recently in Islamabad was an expression of both sides’ willingness to expand cooperation.
A day before the dialogue, the US State Department designated the proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army’s military wing, the Majeed Brigade, as a foreign terrorist organisation. The move was notable because only a couple of months earlier, Washington had added the Resistance Front, considered to be an offshoot of the proscribed Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, to the same list.
Many observers saw the addition of the Majeed Brigade as a balancing act between India and Pakistan, given that India had hailed the Resistance Front listing as a diplomatic victory and evidence of America’s acknowledgment that the militant group, which India alleges is backed by Pakistan, was involved in the Pahalgam attack.
By sanctioning the Majeed Brigade, which is linked to the Jaffar Express terrorist attack, Washington appears to be signalling that both the Resistance Front and Majeed Brigade were designated per its internal procedures rather than as a concession to any side. The parallel drawn between the Pahalgam and Jaffar Express incidents reinforces this perception. It is also worth noting that Pakistan had previously asked for the international designation of Majeed Brigade as a terrorist entity, but the request was not entertained at the time.
Restoration of confidence between the US and Pakistan has not come without a price for the latter.
The US and Pakistan have a long history of CT cooperation, dating back to 2001 when both countries formally engaged in a joint effort against the global threat of terrorism in the aftermath of 9/11. This engagement, however, has always been overshadowed by constraints arising from mutual mistrust and conflicting geopolitical interests. Despite these challenges, the CT dialogue remained intact, except for a few disruptions after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.
Even before the Taliban’s return to power, Pakistan had been struggling to maintain cordial relations with Washington. After August 2021, the trust deficit widened into a deep gulf. Under these circumstances, the CT dialogue faced disillusionment as both sides struggled to identify common interests to sustain cooperation.
With Al Qaeda significantly weakened following the killing of Ayman al-Zawahiri, American interest declined. For Washington, the TTP was primarily viewed as Pakistan’s internal problem, despite acknowledging in joint statements that it posed a threat. The group seen by both as a genuine global security concern was the Islamic State-Khorasan, which also had implications for US homeland security.
Pakistan concentrated its CT efforts on IS-K and eventually delivered results on that front, helping to restore America’s confidence in bilateral CT cooperation. Not only did the recently retired Centcom chief, Gen Michael Kurilla, praise Pakistan as a “phenomenal partner in the world of counterterrorism”, but President Donald Trump himself acknowledged Pakistan’s support in handing over an IS-K terrorist to the US.
The progress achieved last year also brought tangible US support for enhancing Pakistan’s investigative and prosecutorial capabilities, developing border security infrastructure and delivering training to more than 300 police officers and front-line responders.
The underlying objective has been to keep the CT dialogue as a continuous and reliable channel of engagement between the two countries.
A comparison of two joint statements, one issued in May 2024 during the Joe Biden administration and the other released last week, clearly illustrates how the CT dialogue has regained its lost momentum. The May 2024 statement was worded cautiously, noting that “Pakistan and the United States recognise that a partnership to counter [IS-K], TTP and other terrorist organisations will advance security in the region and serve as a model of bilateral and regional cooperation to address transnational terrorism threats”.
By contrast, last week’s joint statement not only acknowledged Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism but also expanded the scope of cooperation to include “the threats posed by the Balochistan Liberation Army”, a long-standing demand of Pakistan.
Equally significant, Pakistan has long sought advanced technological support for its CT efforts. The latest statement reflects an agreement to strengthen institutional frameworks, enhance capabilities to respond to security challenges and counter the use of emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. This effectively acknowledges the threat posed by the militant use of drones, and signals that cooperation in this domain is likely to materialise in the coming weeks.
The restoration of confidence between the two countries and the enhancement of CT cooperation have not come without a price for Pakistan. Islamabad has drastically altered its Afghanistan policy, going so far as to treat the ruling Taliban as an adversary. Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit was cancelled on US advice, reportedly due to the Taliban’s growing ties with Russia and their increasing assertiveness.
Second, it has sought to balance its relations with China, operating under the belief that Beijing, as a pragmatic actor, will not view Pakistan’s growing ties with Washington with suspicion. The thinking in Islamabad is that China might welcome such developments, seeing them as an opportunity to elevate Pakistan’s geopolitical and economic stature, which could benefit Beijing at the right time.
However, Afghanistan has re-emerged as a critical factor in Pakistan’s internal security landscape and its ambitions to connect both geopolitically and geo-economically with Central Asia. The concern is that Pakistan’s national security planners often fail to adopt long-term, strategic perspectives, focusing instead on short-term gains. They seem content celebrating India’s current diplomatic and geopolitical discomfort, without anticipating the challenges that may arise once New Delhi absorbs these shocks and recalibrates its approach.
ISLAMABAD: The capital administration on Saturday closed four trails of the Margalla Hills for three days in view of very heavy and torrential rainfall forecast.
The trails were closed for the safety of the public to prevent hiking and visits to the hills.
Notification issued from the office of the district magistrate stated that, in view of the heavy to very heavy and torrential rainfall forecast for the next 72 hours by the Pakistan Meteorological Department, and based on recommendations by the director general (CES), CDA, and considering the safety of citizens, including hikers and visitors to the Margalla Hills, it is hereby notified that Trail 2, Trail 3, Trail 5 and the trail behind Saidpur village shall remain closed to the general public until August 19.
An official of the capital administration said that the capital police had been directed to ensure that the order is followed in letter and spirit. Police personnel have also been deployed at the starting points of the trails at the foothills to prevent anyone from hiking or visiting the hills.
Other concerned departments have been alerted to closely monitor water flow in the nullahs and streams across Islamabad and to take all precautionary measures.
They have been instructed to seek assistance immediately if water levels rise.
Residents living near nullahs and streams have also been advised to remain vigilant and take precautions.
Similarly, all rescue departments have been put on alert to respond to any emergency or incidents. Low-lying areas of Islamabad will also be closely monitored over the next 72 hours.
• Met Office warns of flash floods, mudslides • Punjab PDMA issues ‘red alert’ for multiple districts • Tarbela Dam is 98pc full; India releases more water
RAWALPINDI/LAHORE: The authorities have been asked to remain on their toes amid a fresh spell of monsoon rains, set to start from today till the 21st, which will cause torrential downpours across the country along with thunder and windstorms.
The new spell coincides with a warning of heavy flooding in Punjab’s rivers due to an increase in water level on the back of the heavy monsoon rains and glacial melt in the northern parts of the country, particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where over 200 people had died in a single day due to flash floods.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said widespread rain-wind/thundershower (with scattered heavy falls at times very heavy) is expected in Kashmir (Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur) and Gilgit-Baltistan (Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar) from August 17 to 19 with occasional gaps.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, widespread rain-wind/thundershower (with scattered heavy falls at times very heavy) is expected in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Buner, Malakand, Bajaur, Mohmand, Kohat, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Waziristan, Tank, and Dera Ismail Khan from August 17 to 19.
In Punjab, widespread rain-wind/thundershower (with scattered heavy falls, at times very heavy) is expected in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Mianwali, Khushab, Sargodha, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Faisalabad and Sahiwal from August 17 to 19 with occasional gaps. Scattered rain-wind/thundershower (with isolated heavy falls) is also likely in Dera Ghazi Khan, Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rajanpur, and Rahimyar Khan from August 18 to 20.
In Sindh, rain-wind/thundershower (with scattered heavy falls at times very heavy) is expected in Mithi, Tharparker, Umer Kot, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Sajawal, Tando Allayar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Sukkur, Larkana, Khairpur, and Jacobabad from August 17 to 22 with occasional gaps.
In Balochistan, rain-wind/thundershower (with isolated heavy falls) is expected in Barkhan, Musakhel, Loralai, Sibi, Zhob, Qilla Saifullah, Khuzdar, Lasbela, Awaran, Kech, Gwadar, and Panjgur from August 17 to 21.
The PMD said the downpour may generate flash floods in local nullahs and streams in different parts of KP, Punjab, and Kashmir from August 17 to 19, while flash floods in the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan and eastern parts of Balochistan from August 18 to 21 are also likely.
Urban centres, including Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, and Gujranwala, may experience urban flooding from August 17 to 19, it said, adding that several cities in Sindh, including Karachi and Hyderabad, may experience the same from August 17 to 22 with occasional gaps. During the forecast period, landslides and mudslides may cause road closures in the hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Galiyat, and Kashmir.
Punjab floods warning
On the other hand, Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued red alerts for multiple districts and warned about heavy flooding in the coming days due to an increase in water levels in reservoirs and rivers.
The Indus River is swelling to medium levels at Kalabagh and Chashma Barrage, while low-level flooding is ongoing at Tarbela and Taunsa Barrage. Sutlej River is experiencing low-level flooding at Ganda Singh Wala, with a water flow of 68,000 cusecs. Jhelum River is flowing normal at key points and adjoining streams. Chenab River’s flow is normal at key points, while low-level flooding persists in Nullah Palkho (Cantonment). Ravi River’s flow is normal at key points, while low-level flooding continues in Nullah Basantar.
Tarbela Dam is 98 per cent full while Mangla Dam is 68pc full. India’s water releases, meanwhile, have increased to 50,000 cusecs.
The PDMA urged citizens, especially those living near riverbanks, to immediately move to safer locations, cooperate with the authorities concerned in case of emergency evacuations, and refrain from recreational activities near the rivers during flood conditions.
The PDMA also warned of heavy rainfall in most districts of Punjab, particularly the northern districts facing risks of torrential rains and cloudbursts. The seventh spell of monsoon rains is relatively stronger, with forecasts of severe downpours, it added.
The Ministry of Finance has directed administrative ministries and regulatory bodies to provide immediate updates on the rollout of Raast QR codes across public utility companies, following the State Bank of Pakistan’s official launch of the digital payment system.
The ministry issued formal letters to department heads and regulatory chairpersons, demanding accelerated implementation of the Prime Minister’s digital payment initiative. Officials stressed that the government will no longer tolerate delays in modernizing Pakistan’s payment infrastructure.
Mandatory Integration Across Key Sectors
Utility providers in electricity, gas, and telecommunications now face binding directives to integrate Raast QR codes into their billing systems. The Cabinet Division, Power Division, Petroleum Division, and Interior Division must coordinate with banks to embed dynamic QR code generation technology.
The State Bank’s Raast Instant Payment System, backed by Karandaaz, processes Person-to-Government and Person-to-Business transactions through real-time, secure channels. Users scan QR codes via mobile banking apps for instant bill payments.
Concrete Benefits Drive Policy Push
The initiative targets three critical improvements:
Customer convenience through instant, interoperable payment options
Operational efficiency by eliminating cash handling burdens for service providers
Financial transparency through enhanced government receipt tracking
Utility companies must now coordinate with partner banks to integrate QR generation systems and ensure codes appear on consumer bills. The ministry expects detailed implementation timelines from all affected divisions.
The government positions this mandate as essential infrastructure for Pakistan’s broader digitalization agenda, moving beyond traditional payment methods that create administrative bottlenecks and limit transaction visibility.
An aerial view shows a green patch of Azadirachta Indica trees over a graveyard with the city in the background in Karachi, on June 6, 2021. — Reuters
PESHAWAR: Experts say that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the rest of Pakistan have reached a critical environmental tipping point.
The 18 percent decline in Pakistan’s forest cover is exposing the environment, economy, and national security to serious threats.
Deforestation, the destruction of rangelands, forest fires, and climate change-related threats are directly contributing to devastating floods, landslides, and cloudbursts. Since 1992, forest area has decreased by 18 percent, while rangelands are producing only 20–30 percent of their potential biomass, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa having the largest share in this decline.
The catastrophic floods of 1992, 2010, and 2025 prove that the destruction of forests and rangelands has turned the watersheds of the upper regions into “flood factories.” Environmental experts say forests in Pakistan are not just trees but the country’s first line of defence for the environment, economy, and national security. They absorb rainwater to prevent flash floods, recharge groundwater, protect agricultural land from erosion, and sustain soil fertility for farming. They balance the climate by reducing temperatures, storing carbon, and regulating rainfall. The forests also provide fuel, fodder, fruits, medicines, and tourism opportunities while protecting biodiversity. They shield the country from floods, landslides, and droughts, safeguarding infrastructure, agriculture, and human settlements. The conclusion is clear without urgent restoration and strict measures.
Pakistan faces severe environmental and economic risks but with effective policies and action forests can play a decisive role in securing the nation’s future.
In Pakistan, forest cover has dropped from 3.78 million hectares in 1992 to 3.09 million hectares in 2025 — an 18 percent reduction. Annual deforestation, which was on peaked at about 40,000 hectares in 1992, has declined due to government intervention to 11,000 hectares in 2025, but international organisations say that even today, Pakistan continues to lose about 11,000 hectares of forest annually. The situation remains alarming.
Rangeland area has fallen from 60 percent to 58 percent, and rangeland biomass production has dropped from 100 percent of potential yield to just 20 percent.
According to official data, in Chitral, over 3,700 hectares of forest were lost between 1992 and 2009, and experts warn of a further 23 percent decline by 2030. In Arandu Gol, 1.6 million cubic feet of timber was illegally cut during timber theft — the largest case in Pakistan’s history.
In Kalam, Swat, massive logging in the 1980s and 1990s severely damaged the catchment area of the Swat River, making the floods of 1992 and 2010 far more destructive. Deforestation continues to weaken slopes and increase the risk of flash floods.
This destruction is not limited to a few districts. In Buner, the August 2025 cloudburst triggered a flash flood that destroyed homes, fields, and infrastructure. Deforested mountains failed to hold back the rainwater. In Battagram, fragile geological structures and deforestation caused landslides that blocked the Karakoram Highway, cutting off northern Pakistan’s road access. In Bajaur, a deadly cloudburst flood in 2025 claimed lives and washed away roads and bridges. In Mansehra, repeated cloudbursts triggered flash floods and landslides, while in Gilgit-Baltistan, forest cover has fallen to less than 4 percent, making the region highly vulnerable to forest fires and glacial lake outburst floods.
Dr Adil Zareef, Convener, Sarhad Conservation Net, warns that forests regulate rainfall patterns, recharge groundwater, and stabilise slopes. Without them, bare mountains heat 5 to 8 degrees more than forested areas, causing monsoon winds to rise rapidly and trigger sudden cloudbursts instead of steady rain. Without roots to hold it, soil loses stability, increasing landslides and mudslides, while glacial lake outburst flood risks also grow.
This environmental destruction is directly impacting people. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, about one-third of households rely on livestock, but rangeland productivity has dropped to just 20–30 percent due to overgrazing and mismanagement. Families that once depended on forests for fodder and fuel are now forced to turn to even more unsustainable means.
The experts stress that the plantation drives alone cannot solve this crisis unless there is strict action against timber mafias and accountability for the involved officials. They urge the government to declare the destruction of forests and rangelands a national emergency and adopt a comprehensive policy that includes watershed management, grazing control, wildfire management systems, and community participation. Recommendations include an environmental monitoring system based on satellite and local data, community-based rangeland restoration, promotion of alternative fuel sources, and special units to fight forest fires in mountain districts.
Dr Khalid Khan said that the forests and rangelands of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are the first line of defence against environmental disasters. Their destruction is weakening the country’s natural shield, endangering lives, livelihoods, and national security.
Without urgent leadership and coordinated action, Pakistan will continue to face more frequent and destructive floods, landslides, and environmental emergencies.
Late journalist Khawar Hussain. — Facebook@k.hussains/File
SANGHAR: Khawar Hussain, a young journalist associated with a private news channel, was found dead in his car on Saturday with a gunshot wound to his head, the police said.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sanghar, Abid Baloch, told reporters that, as per preliminary reports, the journalist’s body was discovered in a vehicle parked outside a restaurant on Hyderabad Road.
He added that Hussain, originally from Sanghar and based in Karachi, had shot himself, though he did not share what this inference was based on.
Baloch later, however, said there was no conclusive evidence that the journalist had taken his own life.
He added it was too early to say if it was a case of suicide and noted that the exact cause of death would only be known after the post-mortem report.
The SSP had initially described the incident as a suicide.
Hussain was slumped in the driver’s seat, with a pistol still in his hand and a suspected self-inflicted head wound, according to first responders.
Rescue workers arrived quickly, while police sealed off the area and launched an investigation.
The journalist had been stationed in Karachi for nearly ten years, working with different media organisations during his career.
The tragic incident drew a quick notice from Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who asked the provincial police chief to submit a report at the earliest.
Shah directed the Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ghulam Nabi Memon to assign the case to the best investigators and leave no stone unturned in the investigation.
He also offered condolences to Hussain’s family, prayed for their strength, and instructed the administration to extend them support.
The death toll from recent flash floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa surged to 332 on Saturday as various districts, especially hard-hit Buner, reported more loss of lives, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Saturday.
This adds to the casualties in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where the unprecedented floods have claimed at least 12 and nine lives, respectively, besides causing widespread destruction.
KP witnessed devastating scenes yesterday as flash floods caused by heavy rainfall and cloudbursts in multiple districts claimed over 200 lives in a day, including five crew members of a provincial government chopper that crashed in Mohmand during relief and rescue efforts.
Buner was the worst-affected district in the province with 208 lives lost in the past 48 hours, according to a PDMA situation report. It added that 120 people were injured, while Deputy Commissioner Kashif Qayum Khan’s office reported that 50 were still missing.
According to a PDMA report seen by Dawn.com earlier today, Shangla reported 37 deaths, Mansehra 23, Swat 22, Bajaur 21, Battagram 15, Lower Dir five and a child drowned in Abbottabad.
Detailing infrastructure damage, the report said 11 houses were destroyed while 63 were partially damaged due to the floods. Two schools in Swat and another in Shangla were also affected.
This screengrab of a PDMA report issued on Aug 16, 2025 shows a breakdown of the rain-related incidents across KP and the resulting casualties in the past 48 hours. — PDMA report
The KP government declared an emergency in the severely affected districts of Buner, Bajaur, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Torghar, Upper and Lower Dir and Battagram.
According to a notification available with Dawn.com, the state of emergency will remain in place until August 31 and local administrations in these districts have been authorised to mobilise all resources for relief activities.
“The Provincial Disaster Management Authority shall provide from its central storage … a reasonable quantity of tents and NFIs (non-food items), and/or any other article available if required for the subject purpose,” the notification read.
The KP government released Rs1 billion in funds to the PDMA for “timely compensation/preparedness and response to cope with any untoward situation”, a notification shared by it on X said.
It also allocated over Rs1.55bn worth of funds for its Communication and Works Department for the restoration of highways and bridges in the flood-affected districts.
Additionally, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said it was closely monitoring the situation in flood-affected areas, noting that flash floods damaged several cellular and fixed-line sites, causing service disruptions.
“PTA teams are on the ground, coordinating with federal [and] provincial authorities, district administrations and telecom operators for swift restoration,” the PTA said in a statement.
In Buner, the PTA held meetings with Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Buner Deputy Commissioner Kashif Qayum and senior officials of PTCL and CMOs (cellular mobile operators) to review recovery efforts.
“PTA, together with operators, is making all-out efforts to restore communication services at the earliest, recognising their vital role in rescue and relief operations,” the statement added.
Additionally, mobile operator Jazz announced in a press release that it would provide free on-net and PTCL calls for all subscribers in KP.
“The Government of Pakistan has also launched the nationwide 911 unified emergency helpline (PEHL), offering citizens free-of-charge access to emergency services across the country,” the operator added.
On the directives of Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, the Pakistan Red Crescent in KP set up an Emergency Relief Centre to assist flood-affected districts. It can be contacted on 0300-5849255 (secretary), 0334-9086169 (admin officer), 091-9333666, or 091-2590846.
Meanwhile, state broadcaster PTV News provided a weather advisory on X, warning people of “a severe risk of floods and landslides on Torghar, Battagram, Shangla, Lower Kohistan, Tatta Pani, Gilgit, Hunza and Swat roads”, discouraging unnecessary travel in these areas.
According to the post, GB’s Somro Bridge, Ghanche, Saltoro Bridge and Baghicha (Skardu) Bridge were severely damaged and citizens were urged to completely avoid travel.
It added that traffic was suspended on the Jaglot-Skardu road, while routes in Ghizer district, Naltar Road, Babusar Top Road and around Hunza were closed, with tourists discouraged from travelling.
Meanwhile, the provincial management service (PMS) chairman requested in a letter that the KP finance secretary deduct a day’s salary from all PMS officers and redirect the money for relief work, further requesting that the secretary redirect his “whole salary”.
In a statement on X, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was “deeply anguished by the devastation caused by cloudbursts and flash floods in KP and northern Pakistan”.
Extending his heartfelt condolences and expressing solidarity, he affirmed: “The government is mobilising all resources for rescue and relief operations.”
The premier added that he met National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik and directed him to “expedite rescue operations in the nine affected districts of Swat, Buner, Bajaur, Torghar, Mansehra, Shangla, and Battagram, with urgent focus on Bajaur and Battagram”.
“Immediate relief is being provided to stranded residents, medical aid to the injured, and heavy machinery has been deployed to clear roads and restore connectivity,” PM Shehbaz said.
Buner Police’s public relations officer Israr Khan, put the district’s death toll at 207, compared to the 204 stated by the PDMA.
DC Qayum, in a statement, ordered a ban on the entry of private vehicles into Buner, stating that it was hindering rescue and relief work.
PTI’s Barrister Gohar, who is an MNA from Buner, and MPA Riaz Khan visited the flood-hit area of Beshonai and met the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in the floods, the KP government said.
Later, Gohar chaired a meeting at the Buner DC’s office, which was attended by CM Gandapur, the KP chief secretary, provincial ministers and other senior officials.
“Instructions were given to the relevant departments and district administration to expedite the search for missing persons, rehabilitation, and road clearance operations in the affected areas,” a post on Gohar’s X account read.
As the nation observed a day of mourning for the five crew members who died in a helicopter crash during rescue efforts, the national flag flew at half-mast at Governor House in Peshawar.
KP CM orders expedited relief efforts in flood-hit areas
CM Gandapur chaired an emergency meeting in Peshawar to review the damage caused by cloudbursts, heavy rains and flash floods across the province, which was attended by the chief secretary, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, senior officials and PDMA representatives, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.
Officials said rescue operations were largely completed and the focus was now on relief and rehabilitation.
The meeting’s participants were informed that 309 people were killed and 23 were injured in various rain and flood-related incidents, while 63 houses were partially damaged. Surveys of damage to roads and other infrastructure are still underway.
A view of a house in Buner’s Beshonai village on August 16 after it was destroyed by flooding. — Arif Hayat
“Work is being carried out to restore road links to cut-off areas, and medical teams, food, medicines, and essential supplies are being sent to the affected districts,” the report read.
The meeting was informed that the provincial government has released Rs 1.5 billion to the PDMA for rescue, relief, and compensation, while releasing another Rs 1.5bn to the communication and works department for the repair of roads and infrastructure.
In addition, Rs500 million was allocated to deputy commissioners to compensate the families of those killed in the flooding.
“The provincial government stands firmly with the people in this difficult time and will use all available resources for their rehabilitation,” the chief minister said at the meeting.
Expressing solidarity with the bereaved families, CM Gandapur praised the provincial and district administrations for their swift response, saying their performance in the crisis had been commendable and urged them to maintain their commitment during the relief and rehabilitation phase.
“Road connectivity must be restored as quickly as possible, with helicopters used to deliver aid to inaccessible areas,” the CM ordered. “Compensation payments must be completed within two days and additional medical staff need to be deployed from neighbouring districts.
“Food supplies must be ensured so that no affected family faces shortages.”
The chief minister also instructed the chief secretary and the PDMA to strengthen monitoring and coordination between federal and provincial agencies, mobilise heavy machinery for reconstruction and immediately dispatch all available food and non-food items to flood-hit districts.
Earlier, the CM visited Buner to review the damage caused by flooding and ongoing relief operations, according to a post on X by the KP government.
“The divisional and district administration will brief the chief minister on human and financial losses and relief activities,” the government wrote. “The chief minister will also visit the affected areas and meet with the affected families.”
The post added that members of the provincial cabinet, the chief secretary, and other officials would accompany CM Gandapur.
While speaking to reporters in the area, the chief minister said that rescue operations have started and the government is working to clear roads blocked by the flooding.
“Routes in some areas have been restored; however, some have not,” he said. “We have also requested helicopters. Our goal right now is to restore the routes.
“I want to let people know that the provincial government compensate citizens fully for damages to their homes,” the chief minister added. “We are in touch with the NDMA and they will provide us with whatever we need.”
PM to visit affected areas: Amir Muqam
Federal Minister Muqam, visited areas in Buner affected by floods today to assess the damage and meet with victims, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.
The minister, who is also the president of the PML-N in KP, was accompanied by the Malakand commissioner and other senior officials.
Muqam stated that he was visiting on the instructions of PM Shehbaz, who is personally overseeing the relief operation. “This is not the time for politics; the entire nation stands with victims,” he said.
The minister added that the prime minister would also be visiting the affected districts soon, but did not say specifically when.
During his visit, Muqam directed officials to expedite relief efforts, which are being supported by the local police and district administration. He met with affected families, offering condolences and reviewing ongoing relief activities.
The minister noted that the local administration, the Pakistan Army, and Frontier Corps were all participating in the rescue operation.
“Many villages have been completely destroyed and prayers are being offered for those still missing,” he said. “Medical camps have been established in affected areas and the federal government will provide all necessary resources.”
11 dead, 318 homes destroyed in GB: disaster authority
According to the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA), 11 people were killed, 25 were injured and four were reported missing during the past 48 hours.
The authority added that 92 houses were partially damaged, while 99 were fully destroyed, citing initial reports. Detailed assessments were still ongoing
Interior Minister Shams Lone said that the bridge on the Baltistan Highway was swept away in the flood, cutting off four districts of Baltistan from Gilgit for the second day.
He said that since July 22, “thirty-five people died, 35 were injured and four are missing in the flood waves. Similarly, 318 houses have been completely demolished and 674 have been partially damaged.”
Lone said that the GB government does not have the resources, so the Army has taken steps to help in relief efforts.
“The Pakistan Army played an important role in the rehabilitation after the massive destruction caused by the Babusar flood and provided food and other essential items to the victims of Ghizer today,” he said. “The Army has played an important role and is still at the forefront in this difficult phase.”
Later, Rescue Information Officer Shakriz said in a statement that the body of a person previously reported missing had been recovered, bringing the overall death toll in the region to 36.
Tourists trapped, power plants damaged in GB’s Naltar Valley: govt
Meanwhile, GB government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq said a “great number of tourists” were trapped in the Naltar Valley as the land route was disconnected after floodwaters washed away a huge chunk of the Naltar Expressway.
In his statement, the official said the power supply in the area had been suspended as the three power plants situated there were shut down due to the floods.
According to Faraq, river waters from the Jaglot Goro stream entered several houses and restaurants in low-lying areas.
He added that floods across the province caused severe damage to public property and infrastructure.
“Flooding in four locations in Gilgit district today severely damaged four power plants, a bridge and an expressway, while a large number of buildings were submerged in Jaglot Guru.”
Faraq said that the floods in Naltar Valley damaged three power plants, cutting off power supply to thousands of people.
“A power plant and a bridge were also damaged in Bagrot, cutting off power, while land communication was suspended due to the bridge being washed away,” Faraq said.
“A flood relay containing heavy stones swept away a house within the limits of Allahwali Lake in Astore in the afternoon,” he added. “Local people ran to save their lives.”
A house in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Astore district is washed away by flash flooding on August 16. — Gilgit-Baltistan Government
Rescue efforts continue but face challenges
The KP PDMA told AFP that around 2,000 rescue workers were engaged in recovering bodies from the debris and carrying out relief operations in nine affected districts.
Rescue 1122 Director General Muhammad Tayyab Abdullah told Dawn.com that an elite rescue squad of 80 individuals has been formed for areas where operations are facing “intense difficulty”.
“In the past 12 hours, 3,542 emergencies have been responded to, while 76 vehicles are taking part in the rescue operations,” he detailed.
DG Abdullah noted that the teams were facing challenges in their activities because of ruined roads, while people were also not able to contact helplines due to damaged mobile towers.
Similarly, KP Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi told AFP: “Heavy rainfall, landslides in several areas, and washed-out roads are causing significant challenges in delivering aid, particularly in transporting heavy machinery and ambulances.
“Due to road closures in most areas, rescue workers are travelling on foot to conduct operations in remote regions,” he highlighted.
“They are trying to evacuate survivors, but very few people are relocating due to the deaths of their relatives or loved ones being trapped in the debris.”
Meanwhile, PTV News reported that Pakistan Army personnel have arrived in Buner as part of relief efforts. The broadcaster said in a post on X that special equipment from the Army Corps of Engineers will be used to recover bodies and those injured trapped underneath layers of mud.
“Rations and other supplies are being provided through Pakistan Army helicopters, and people are being evacuated from flood-hit areas to safe locations,” PTV News wrote.
A statement issued by Buner’s Rescue 1122 said DG Abdullah, Buner Operations Director Mir Alam, North Region Operations Director Arshad Iqbal and the district emergency officer were supervising the operation themselves.
The Rescue DG urged the public not to go near floodwaters, rainwater drains or bridges, and contact the 1122 helpline in the case of an emergency.
In Battagram, two more bodies were recovered at the Malkal Gali-Neel Band village, which had been impacted by a cloudburst on early Thursday, according to Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Saleem Khan.
The rescue operations had resumed at 6am after being suspended at 7:30pm yesterday due to nightfall and the challenging terrain.
Flash floods also severely impacted the power infrastructure in Swat, as floodwaters entered the 132KV Swat grid station, causing the tripping of 41 feeders and the complete suspension of electric supply across the region.
The KP PDMA has said rainfall would continue until August 21 in different parts of the province.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has also warned the Balochistan government to take emergency measures to prepare for a new spell of monsoon rains in the province, which will start from Aug 18 and continue until Aug 22.
Villagers in Buner deal with the aftermath
Beshonai village in Buner, a settlement of more than 80 households, was left in ruins a day after flash flooding tore through the village centre.
According to a Dawn.com correspondent on the ground, a steady stream was calmly running beneath the large stones the flood brought in, and though there are some remaining houses along the bank of the stream, most others were completely washed away, along with their inhabitants.
Hakeem Jan, a resident of a nearby village, told Dawn.com that he heard “loud bursts” in the mountains, then “a huge rally of water and big stones colliding and raging downward”.
“Multiple cloudbursts in the upper portion of the Elum valley caught the villagers unguarded, leaving them with no time to escape,” Jan said. “The survivors are the children who were at school away from the village or the ones who are on jobs outside Buner.”
Onlookers navigate through stones and rocks left behind after a flash flood ran through Beshonai village, in KP’s Buner district, in this photo from August 16. — Arif Hayat
One survivor, Gul Bacha, told Dawn.com, “Most people working in the relief operations are outsiders and there are no confirmed figures on the death toll here. I was upstream when I saw a big wave of black water coming in the direction of our village.
“I ran like crazy and was screaming to the villagers … some people heard me and ran, but most people downstream were caught unawares.”
Javed Khan, a schoolteacher who lost several relatives, told Dawn.com that while no bodies were recovered in Beshornarry, “seventy corpses were swept away and recovered in Peer Baba and Dagar, later laid to rest by locals”.
An image from August 16 shows the collapsed roof of a house destroyed by flash flooding in Beshonai village, in Buner district. — Arif Hayat
Peer Baba Union Council Nazim Abbas Shaheen told Dawn.com that accessibility was a major hurdle. “It is almost impossible to bring heavy machinery into the affected areas,” he said.
In Qadar Nagar, another valley in the area affected by the floods, a collective funeral for 56 people was offered, where one family lost 40 people. The two survivors among them were a father and his son, who were at Islamabad airport to collect another son who had returned home from abroad.
After hitting Beshonai village and Qadar Nagar, the floodwater left behind wrecked houses and destroyed vehicles in its path, affecting major towns and villages. Images taken by a correspondent on the ground showed cars swept away and lodged in buildings, as well as flooded school yards.
A car can be seen lodged into a building by floodwater in Beshornarry village in Buner, in this photo from August 16. — Arif Hayat
