Pakistan

‘Second life’: Helicopters rescue the stranded from Pakistan valleys

Published

2 years ago

Farwa

Up to 200,000 people are stranded in remote Pakistan valleys.
Army and govt helicopter missions have rescued hundreds of panicked tourists and locals.
Deputy commissioner for Swat says stricken tourists have made up majority of evacuations.

SAIDU SHARIF: Up to 200,000 people are stranded in remote Pakistan valleys after the unrelenting floods of the past week — with helicopters the only way of reaching them.

Unprecedented rain in the Swat Valley turned rivers into raging torrents that washed away roads and bridges, cutting off tourists and residents from nearby towns, even as the water receded.

Army and government helicopter missions have rescued hundreds of panicked tourists and locals — some urgently needing medical help.

“It feels like I have got a second life,” said tourist Yasmin Akram, a diabetic who was airlifted to Saidu Sharif’s airfield from the Kalam valley with her 12-year-old daughter and husband.

The traffic police officer watched in despair as the hotel they fled in the middle of the night was swallowed by the Swat river, taking with it a young boy.

“I witnessed this all with my own eyes,” she said. “Since then I haven’t slept.”

Her husband, dazed from exhaustion, said he ran out of medication for his kidney condition after Kalam was cut off.

“When I arrived here it was like being given a new life,” said Muhammad Akram, an official with the Punjab government.

Their two adult sons were left behind, with priority given to the sick, women and children.

The stunning Swat Valley, known locally as the “Pakistani Switzerland”, is a popular tourist spot because of its majestic mountains, lakes and rivers.

‘Challenges are immense’

Junaid Khan, the deputy commissioner for Swat, told AFP that stricken tourists have made up the majority of evacuations.

Government officials and doctors have been airlifted into the valleys to identify those most in need of rescue.

Locals are willing to stay behind if food and medical supplies are guaranteed, said Khan.

Thousands of food aid packages have already been delivered — some dropped from the back of a helicopter when crowds of people reaching for the aircraft made it impossible to land.

“We’ve reached areas that no other organisations and aid groups have been able to,” Khan said at Saidu Sharif’s airfield, where some of the rescue missions are being coordinated.

Locals are hurrying to create makeshift landing pads for the helicopters — with the first established on grounds surrounding a mosque in Mankyel.

It could be days before roads leading to the mountains and valleys are repaired.

“The challenges are immense but the hope is very high in this region which has seen the worst of earthquakes and floods,” said Khan.

So far 21 deaths have been reported in the area’s valleys — mostly as a result of collapsed houses — but a handful of people were washed away by floods.

A helicopter supplied by the provincial government’s chief minister — not built for rescue missions — has helped to pull more than 350 people from villages, carrying up to double the recommended number of passengers.

Army helicopters have collected hundreds more.

Latest News

Noticing the court closure, LHC issues an order for impenetrable security.

Published

1 day ago

Farwa

Concerns over court closures and case hearing suspensions have been brought up by Chief Justice Shehzad Ahmed Khan of the Lahore High Court (LHC).

In a letter to the authorities, LHC CJ has brought attention to the situation.

The Punjab Interior Minister received a letter from the LHC expressing dismay over law enforcement forces’ disregard for court orders. Copies of the letter were also forwarded to the Punjab Inspector General (IG) and the Lahore Chief City Police Officer (CCPO).

Court closures should never be permitted, the letter stressed, claiming that doing so would constitute a threat to the rule of law.

It was instructed to the Punjab IG and Lahore CCPO to make sure that every court had impenetrable security.

Contrasting it with contempt of court, the LHC denounced the LHC Bar secretary’s action to forcibly halt case proceedings.

The LHC Bar secretary and other parties involved were not subject to contempt proceedings, according to the letter, demonstrating the court’s forbearance.

In closing, the letter expressed hope that court attacks would stop in the future, highlighting the importance of a safe and continuous legal system.

Latest News

The Chief Minister of Punjab has given his approval for the implementation of a laptop scheme aimed at providing laptops to students.

Published

1 day ago

Farwa

The Laptop Scheme for students has been authorized by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

The Chief Minister of Punjab chaired a meeting on reforms in the higher education sector, which focused on important decisions, including the endorsement of the Laptop Scheme.

As part of the program, pupils will receive the most up-to-date laptops with a seven-year interval.

During the session, a presentation was provided on the promotion of higher education, the laptop program, and transportation services for females.

A decision was made to prioritize the construction of new universities and colleges in disadvantaged districts of Punjab.

According to CM Maryam Nawaz, the objective of the Punjab administration is to establish institutions of international caliber in each district and colleges in every tehsil.

The user expressed approval for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s declaration of an education crisis.

The Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, also emphasized that 20,000 motorcycles were being distributed to students throughout the province.

Smog Eradication Initiative

In addition, a dedicated committee consisting of thirteen members, led by Maryam Nawaz, has been established to address the smog situation.

The group, comprised of 12 ministers from different departments, will assess the reports on the elimination of pollution.

The group will also identify the primary sources of smog.

Latest News

The ‘clinics on wheels’ initiative is introduced by CM Maryam.

Published

1 day ago

Farwa

Punjab is heading toward progress and prosperity, according to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

Speaking at the ‘clinics on wheels’ project celebration, the chief minister emphasized how this project will improve public health and change the health system.

She emphasized that all of the essential medical facilities were included in the Clinics on Wheels scheme. There would be multiple locations for the 200 mobile clinics. Gynecology services, screenings, immunizations, and medical testing will all be offered at the clinics.

There will be ultrasound equipment available at 50 of the 200 mobile clinic locations. Up to 4 million people will be helped by this endeavor, especially in places without hospital services.

First choice for local physicians to volunteer for this project will be granted to those from 36 districts. Consideration is also being given to the lack of paramedical and nursing personnel.

The project, which was started by Nawaz Sharif and put on hold by the previous administration, is being restarted, according to the chief minister. According to her, her government’s goal is to deliver healthcare right to people’s doors.

Additionally, she revealed that eight districts in Punjab would have the construction of modern cardiology hospitals.

With Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafiq, Imran Nazir, and Health Secretary Ali Khan in attendance, CM Maryam officially launched the clinics on wheels project.