Swat, September 7, 2025: Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid on Sunday urged the federal government to declare flood-affected regions of Pakistan as disaster zones, stressing that political differences must be set aside to help the victims.
Speaking at a press conference in Swat, Khalid said the devastation had caused “massive losses to both lives and property” and immediate relief measures were essential. She said the government was considering a plan to provide easy bank loans to small and medium business owners to help them recover.
Khalid acknowledged that it was not possible to reach every affected family but assured that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed authorities to accelerate relief and recovery efforts. She added that reforms in the BISP registration process were under review to make aid distribution faster and more effective.
The BISP chief expressed sorrow over the suffering of flood victims and criticized the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, saying it had failed to extend meaningful support. “Helping the victims must come first—politics can wait,” she said, calling for cooperation among all parties.
Meanwhile, floods worsened in Punjab and Sindh as rivers swelled beyond danger levels following continuous heavy rains. According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), at least 56 people have died in Punjab so far. PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said 25 districts and over 4,000 villages had been severely affected, with thousands of homes and streets still under water.
