Rs350m released for Operation Zarb-e-Azb victims

MIRANSHAH: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has released nearly Rs350 million in monthly cash and ration aid for the families affected by Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan.

These funds, distributed via mobile SIM card messaging, will soon be received by approximately 17,000 registered and verified affected families.According to a press release, the recent release marks the 118th installment of regular monthly aid provided to the families displaced by Operation Zarb-e-Azb who have not yet returned home.

Each verified family receives Rs12,000 in cash assistance and an additional Rs8,000 for rations every month to help ease their financial burdens.The funds are separate from those allocated for families affected by natural disasters.

In response to a query, the PDMA director stated that following a decision by the provincial cabinet, once the funds were received from the government, an additional 554 verified affected families would be added to the aid list and would soon start receiving monthly financial assistance.

About 18,000 affected families from North Waziristan, most of whom belong to Dattakhel tehsil, have not yet returned home. On the other hand, the return process for over 100,000 families has been completed.