MINGORA: The suffering of flood-affected families continues to deepen months after devastating floods swept through Buner district.
In what residents describe as a new “test of survival,” hundreds of government-issued relief cheques have turned out to be empty, leaving already distressed victims frustrated and uncertain about their future.
According to local accounts, the district administration distributed 750 compensation cheques among registered flood victims. But when the cheques were presented at banks, not a single one carried any funds. For families already struggling to rebuild their damaged homes and livelihoods, the disappointment was crushing.
“We have had no functional government here for 13 years,” said one affected resident. “The minister we elected has not resolved our issue. They kept asking us for three more days, and now a hundred days have passed.”
Another flood victim questioned the government’s intentions: “If they had no funds, why issue cheques? Why collect our data? Why declare us ‘affected’ if they weren’t going to pay us? It raises serious questions.”
The victims said that they have repeatedly contacted the district administration, which continues to assure them that the cheques will be cleared soon.
However, they complain that neither the administration nor the provincial government has given a firm and satisfactory timeline.
Speaking to media, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Relief), Buner, Ikram Shah said that around Rs 1.25 billion worth of compensation cheques had already been paid out to earlier beneficiaries, and the remaining cheques would also be cleared once fresh funds were released.
“They must wait until the next tranche of funds arrives,” he said. “They should not worry. We will not rest until every last affected person is compensated,” he went on to add.
For now, however, flood victims in Buner remain suspended between government promises and an uncertain reality.
As they wait beside the ruins of their damaged homes, their only hope is that the provincial government releases the required funds without further delay.
