August 23, 2025
By Kaleem Ullah
LAHORE
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Khyber Pukhtunkhwa has intensified relief and rehabilitation measures for families displaced by the recent targeted military operation in Bajaur. Thousands of displaced people are currently sheltered in the main camp at Bajaur Sports Complex as well as in government buildings and temporary shelters.
According to figures shared by PDMA staff, at least 490 families are staying at the Sports Complex camp, while more than 5,000 families have taken refuge in government buildings. So far, over 10,000 families have been registered, with the number expected to rise to nearly 18,000 — around 126,000 individuals, including women and children.
Compensation for all families
During her visit to the camp, Sobia Husam Toru, Director of PDMA’s Complex Emergency Wing, said government-run relief operations were in full swing. Each registered family is to receive one-time cash assistance of Rs50,000, with an additional Rs25,000 to be given upon return. On the directives of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur, families are also being provided Rs15,000 in ration support. Funds are being transferred through a SIM-based messaging system to ensure transparency and speed.
Toru inspected camp arrangements, spoke with displaced women to hear their concerns, and issued on-the-spot directives. Officials informed her that NADRA has set up special counters in Bajaur, staffed with female officers, to assist women during registration.
Alongside cash support, PDMA — with help from the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and other partner organizations — is providing tents, non-food items, clean drinking water, food packages, healthcare services, WASH facilities, and maternal and child care.
PDMA Director General Asfandyar Khattak emphasized that providing timely and transparent aid is the top priority. “The government is utilizing all resources to ensure relief and to restore the dignity of Bajaur’s displaced families,” he said, adding that the Chief Minister has strictly instructed all departments to respect the cultural values of the displaced.
Toru further confirmed that PDMA teams are working round-the-clock with national and international partners to ensure no deserving family is left out. Cash assistance can be collected from any mobile network retailer once recipients receive an SMS notification.
Meanwhile, authorities announced on Friday that residents of Tarkhoo in Bajaur’s Lowi Mamund tehsil have been allowed to return home after the area was declared free of terrorists.
Administration declares the area clear of terrorists
In a notification issued late Thursday night, the district administration stated: “By the grace of Allah, security forces have successfully cleared the Tarkhoo area of Lowi Mamund tehsil of terrorists, restoring peace and ensuring the full writ of the state.”
The statement added that displaced residents could now return to their homes under state protection. Repatriation from other affected areas will begin in phases once they are fully cleared.