Islamabad — While Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reels from devastating floods and a deadly cloudburst that have claimed over 500 lives and left hundreds injured, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has embarked on a foreign trip to Brussels.His decision has drawn sharp criticism from public and political circles, who argue that such foreign visits at a time of grave humanitarian crisis undermine both empathy and responsible governance.
According to reports, the governor is accompanied by seven government officials and a group of Islamabad-based journalists, with the trip costing millions of rupees in public funds. Critics maintain that instead of prioritizing the suffering of flood victims, provincial leadership has chosen luxury and foreign travel.
The August 15 catastrophe brought large-scale destruction across Buner, Swat, Swabi, Bajaur, Shangla, Dir, Mansehra, and Battagram districts.More than 800 houses were completely destroyed while over 3,000 homes suffered partial damage. Residents report that markets and shops in Mingora, Pir Baba, Shangla, and Swabi were also swept away by floodwaters. Vast swathes of farmland, livestock, and orchards were destroyed, leaving thousands without livelihoods.
During rescue operations in Buner, Alkhidmat Foundation volunteer Muhammad Zahoor lost his life while saving others from floodwaters, symbolizing the human cost of ongoing relief efforts.Currently, government agencies and welfare organizations continue to carry out rescue and relief work in affected areas, though fears of outbreaks of waterborne diseases are mounting.
Public and political voices have urged Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to raise the issue at the federal level and demand stronger support for the province. Experts stress the urgent need to dispatch teams of psychologists to affected areas to provide counseling and help victims cope with severe trauma and psychological distress.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has been called upon to ensure that both international and locally raised relief funds are transparently and effectively spent on flood victims, without delays in the rehabilitation process.
