PESHAWAR – As torrential rains and fierce winds lash northern Pakistan, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa tourism department has scrambled into action, launching a dedicated flood emergency response unit and cancelling all staff leave to prepare for potential disaster across popular tourist districts.
The decision — triggered by fresh weather warnings of intensified monsoon activity — reflects growing concern for the safety of travellers and residents in hilly destinations such as Swat, Chitral, and Mansehra. The flood emergency response unit, now operational from the Culture and Tourism Authority’s central office in Peshawar, will coordinate rapid response efforts, oversee evacuations if necessary, and keep a direct line with rescue teams on the ground.
An internal memo, signed by Secretary Tourism Dr Abdul Samad, outlines urgent orders: tourist police must be visibly deployed, emergency helplines must remain live, and district-level focal persons must begin daily weather tracking. “Every moment counts in situations like this,” reads a line from the communique. “Our aim is zero delay in action.”
Focal persons include Ashfaq Ahmad (Upper Dir), Engineer Arslan Shaukat (Abbottabad), Asad Shehzad (Mansehra), Karamat Ali (Swat), and Ikram Hussain (Chitral). Each will lead operations in their district, reporting directly to the provincial centre.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa tourism department is particularly concerned about flash floods disrupting access to mountainous retreats during peak tourist season. Local authorities and Rescue 1122 have been placed on high alert.
The public is being urged to postpone non-essential travel and monitor advisories. With infrastructure fragile and weather volatile, the department’s swift creation of the flood emergency response unit may prove critical in safeguarding both tourism and lives in the days ahead.
