On August 20, 2025, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir arrived in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to assess the devastation caused by recent floods and oversee relief efforts.

Their visit began in Swat, where Federal Minister Amir Muqam welcomed them, followed by a trip to Buner, one of the hardest-hit districts. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) continues to deliver critical aid to flood-affected areas, as the region grapples with a death toll exceeding 350, including 228 fatalities in Buner alone.

In Swat, the leaders received a detailed briefing on the flood’s impact, which has destroyed homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods across KP. They then proceeded to Buner, where torrential rains and flash floods have caused catastrophic losses.

Scale of the Disaster

The floods, triggered by relentless monsoon rains since late June, have claimed over 350 lives in KP, with Buner bearing the brunt. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reports 209 deaths in Buner, alongside 36 in Shangla, 24 in Mansehra, and 16 in Swat. Across the province, 159 houses and 57 schools have been damaged, with roads and bridges washed away, isolating communities. The NDMA warns that heavy rainfall may continue until August 22, raising fears of further flooding and landslides in vulnerable areas like Swat, Buner, and Bajaur.

Relief Efforts

The NDMA has ramped up its response, dispatching two consignments of aid to Bajaur and Mansehra on August 20. These include tents, blankets, generators, dewatering pumps, ration bags, and medicines, handed over to district administrations for distribution. Working with the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps, and welfare organizations, the NDMA has mobilized extensive resources. Army helicopters are delivering supplies to remote areas like Khawaza Banda and Mingora, while medical camps in Swat, Buner, and Shangla have treated over 6,300 patients. The army has also deployed engineering units to repair 90 damaged roads and bridges, with 70% of the power supply restored in affected areas.

Prime Minister Sharif has directed federal ministers, including Amir Muqam for Buner and Shangla, and Awais Leghari for Buner, to supervise relief operations. Field Marshal Munir has mobilized additional troops, donating one day’s army rations—over 600 tonnes—and soldiers’ salaries to aid victims. The KP government, led by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, has allocated Rs 500 million for relief, with Rs 150 million for Buner. Both leaders have emphasized unity, with Sharif stating, “This is not the time for politics; the nation stands with the victims.”