By Faizan Khan
LAHORE: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Punjab has declared 72 tehsils across 27 districts as disaster-hit following the recent floods, marking the start of a large-scale relief and rehabilitation campaign across the province.
According to an official notification jointly issued by the Board of Revenue Punjab and the PDMA, the designation applies to villages where more than half of the area has sustained damage. The declaration, made under the Punjab National Calamities Prevention and Relief Act of 1958, directs district administrations to accelerate rescue and relief operations, ensuring that emergency assistance reaches those most affected.
PDMA Director-General Irfan Ali Kathia said that special monitoring teams have been formed under the Relief Commissioner Punjab to supervise the ongoing operations. He announced that land revenue and water charges (abiana) for the current Kharif season would be waived as an immediate relief measure.
In coordination with district governments, the PDMA will also begin reconstruction projects to restore damaged infrastructure, including roads, drainage systems, schools, and health centres. Housing rehabilitation is expected to be prioritized for displaced and low-income families.
Kathia further stated that financial compensation would be fast-tracked for affected households, while farmers who lost crops or livestock may qualify for agricultural loan waivers or deferments. Relief camps are being set up across the hardest-hit areas, following directives from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, to provide shelter, food, and medical support to displaced families.
Officials said the comprehensive relief strategy aims not only to assist those devastated by the floods but also to strengthen local resilience against future climate-driven disasters, underscoring the province’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather events.
