Peshawar/Islamabad, September 2, 2025: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has reignited the debate over the long-disputed Kalabagh Dam, calling it “essential for the state” and urging provinces to resolve concerns through dialogue rather than confrontation.
Speaking to reporters after a party meeting at KP House in Islamabad on Monday, Gandapur said Pakistan’s failure to build large reservoirs had worsened the devastation caused by recent floods.
“We are afraid to even name some dams. Kalabagh Dam is necessary for the state, and if there are reservations, they should be addressed through talks. We are ready to contribute our share, and other provinces should also play their part,” he said.
The chief minister admitted that delays in constructing large dams had left the country vulnerable to disasters. He said his government had already completed six dams, including Gomal Dam, which helped reduce flood losses. Work was also underway on new water projects, including the Jabba Dam to protect Peshawar, and protective infrastructure in Budhni to shield the city from floods.
Addressing the recent flash floods in Buner, Gandapur attributed the disaster to a cloudburst rather than deforestation. “Cloudbursts occur due to rising atmospheric heat and can happen anywhere,” he explained, adding that nets would be installed on the “Swiss model” to block rocks and debris carried by floodwaters.
Earlier, while chairing a video-link meeting with deputy commissioners, Gandapur ordered immediate action against encroachments along rivers, canals, and drains to prevent future flood damage. He also announced a one-time mefga project for de-silting rivers and strengthening embankments across the province.
Relief officials briefed the meeting on compensation and aid distribution:
- Families of 352 out of 411 deceased victims have received compensation, totaling Rs704 million.
- Payments worth Rs30 million have been made to 60 injured victims, out of 132 cases.
- For damaged housing, 367 of 571 fully destroyed houses and 1,094 of 1,983 partially damaged houses have been compensated, with Rs595 million already disbursed.
- 29,631 food packages have been distributed to flood-affected families.
Gandapur directed that compensation payments be completed within two days, followed immediately by rehabilitation work. He instructed DCs to personally supervise infrastructure restoration and prepare PC-1s in the field rather than offices.
Future planning, he said, must be guided by 40 years of water flow data to design effective flood prevention strategies. He also suggested using prefabricated structures for the quick restoration of schools and health centers, while stressing the need for urgent measures to prevent epidemics in flood-hit regions.
The chief minister commended the civil administration for its handling of the crisis.
“Our institutions demonstrated exemplary performance during the recent floods. The speed of rescue operations, relief distribution, and compensation payments is unprecedented in the country’s history. This reflects improved governance in KP,” Gandapur said.
The meeting was attended by Finance Adviser Muzammil Aslam, Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Additional Chief Secretary Home Muhammad Abid Majeed, Secretary Relief, DG PDMA, and deputy commissioners of affected districts.
