QILA SAIFULLAH: A third consecutive wave of severe hailstorms has devastated large swathes of South Pashtunkhwa, destroying ready-to-harvest wheat crops, orchards, and uprooting countless trees, leaving landowners facing losses running into billions of rupees.
According to a press release issued by the central secretariat of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP), the latest hailstorm struck Qila Saifullah district on [current date], compounding damage from earlier storms in March and April that had already severely affected various districts across the region.
The party’s statement described the situation as catastrophic, noting that landowners who toil throughout the year to earn income from their gardens and crops have seen their livelihoods wiped out in minutes. The ready wheat crop—on the verge of harvest—has been completely destroyed.
“Not only has the garden crop been destroyed, but most of the trees have been uprooted from the ground,” the statement said, emphasizing the urgent need for immediate assessment of losses suffered by landowners in Qila Saifullah.
The party demanded that damage estimates be conducted across different areas and tehsils of Qila Saifullah, Loralai, and Zhob districts, with financial assistance promptly provided to affected landowners across the province.
PKMAP has called upon the government to declare Qila Saifullah district a disaster area. The party further demanded that authorities immediately appoint a survey team to conduct a comprehensive assessment and provide generous compensation to affected landowners.
In a broader appeal, the statement also urged domestic and international donor agencies to adopt a compassionate approach and extend help to the storm-ravaged communities.
