Devastating floods: PM orders indiscriminate action against land, timber mafias

DAGGAR: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday vowed to mobilise all available federal resources, in coordination with the provinces, to support flood-affected communities. He stressed the urgent need to ban construction in vulnerable riverine and mountainous zones and announced plans to convene a meeting of all provincial chief ministers to launch a nationwide initiative. The premier also called for firm action against illegal encroachments, the timber mafia and unregulated mining in waterways, stating that no one should be above the law.

The prime minister visited the flood-affected districts of Swat, Buner, Shangla and Swabi. He was accompanied by federal ministers and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. In Buner, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attributed the scale of devastation — which claimed over 700 lives, including 350 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — to environmental degradation, illegal construction, deforestation and unchecked mining. Calling the disaster a “Qayamat-e-Sughra,” he stressed that cloudbursts and flash floods had wiped out entire communities. Shehbaz announced plans to convene a meeting with all the four provincial chief ministers and chief secretaries to launch a nationwide ban on construction in vulnerable riverine and mountainous areas. He urged unity in relief efforts and called for decisive, indiscriminate action against land and timber mafias, highlighting that Pakistan ranks among the 10 countries most affected by climate change. He directed that Pakistan must act as a firm state where no one is above the law, and that necessary action should be taken against defaulters without discrimination. Earlier, the prime minister and other participants offered Fateha for those who lost their lives in the catastrophe. The prime minister announced that regardless of bill payments, electricity in Buner and Swat would be restored in one week with most damaged feeders already repaired. He said road and bridge restoration was underway on an emergency basis, with instructions to proceed regardless of jurisdiction. He praised the Pakistan Army, led by COAS Field Marshal Asim Munir, for its dual role in combating terrorism and aiding flood victims, and also commended KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur for his active role in relief efforts.

During their visit to KP, the PM and COAS received a detailed briefing on ongoing relief efforts. The COAS also interacted with troops, police and civil administration personnel involved in rescue operations, lauding their selfless commitment to assisting flood victims. He directed ground formations to approach this responsibility with utmost devotion and to spare no effort in alleviating the hardships of flood-stricken families. He underscored that the safety and relief of fellow citizens must remain the foremost priority.

Separately, during a meeting in Islamabad with a delegation from Shandong Xinxu Group, led by Chairman Hou Jianxin, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening economic ties with China. He invited Chinese investment in key sectors, especially maritime industries and Special Economic Zones (SEZs). The Chinese group expressed strong interest in establishing a green ship-breaking yard, a maritime industrial complex and investing in fisheries, fish processing and date processing. Chairman Hou thanked the government for its support and noted Pakistan’s strong investment potential. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, PM’s Adviser Dr Tauqir Shah, and other senior government officials were also present at the meeting.