PESHAWAR: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) informed the Peshawar High Court that 504 people, including 338 men, 76 women, and 90 children, lost their lives during this year’s devastating monsoon floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The information was submitted in response to a petition seeking a comprehensive disaster management plan and compensation for victims.
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NDMA stated that Prime Minister has approved payments of Rs2 million to the next of kin of each deceased person. Other respondents in the petition include KP’s Relief, Rehabilitation and Settlement Department and the Ministry of Climate Change, which have also submitted their comments to the court.
Advocate Ahmad Mujtaba of Swabi filed the petition, requesting measures to prevent landslides and flash floods through afforestation, infrastructure development, and other mitigating actions. He also sought directives for an early warning system, emergency preparedness plans, monitoring mechanisms, damage assessments, and provision of food, shelter, and medical aid.
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NDMA explained that Pakistan’s disaster management system is structured in a three-tier devolved system, placing primary responsibility on provincial and district authorities. NDMA’s role is to provide federal support when disasters exceed local capacity. According to the final situation report on Oct 2, 2025, Buner was the worst-hit district with 256 deaths, followed by Swabi (43), Swat (42), Shangla (39), Mansehra (28), and Bajaur (25). In total, 218 people were injured, 3,222 houses damaged, and 5,467 livestock lost.
The KP Relief Department reported that Rescue 1122 saved 6,395 people and recovered 442 bodies during the monsoon floods. The department emphasized that natural disasters such as cloudbursts, landslides, and heavy rainfall are unforeseen events. PDMA had conducted preparedness meetings and implemented a monsoon contingency plan, issuing threat alerts and coordinating relief operations.
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The Ministry of Climate Change requested the court to dismiss the petition, noting that environmental grievances could be addressed under the KP Environmental Protection Act, 2014, through the Environmental Protection Tribunal.