PESHAWAR – The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has launched a cutting-edge initiative to tackle the growing threat of floods by deploying drones and modern rescue tools during the monsoon season. This marks the first time drones are being used in Pakistan for direct rescue operations.
Under the directive of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and Rescue 1122 are testing heavy-duty drones capable of carrying up to 100 kilograms of emergency supplies, including life jackets, ropes, and food packets. These unmanned aerial vehicles are also being used for aerial surveillance of flood-prone regions.
Mock drills were recently held along the Swat River, where the new equipment was successfully tested under real-life flood scenarios. According to Bilal Faizi, spokesperson for Rescue 1122, “These trials help us get ready for actual emergencies and will improve our response times dramatically.”
The initiative is part of a broader flood preparedness strategy, which includes:
Mandatory safety gear at tourist hotels
Frequent weather alerts via the Tourism Department
Crackdowns on illegal riverbank construction
Community training in rescue techniques
Officials say this tech-driven rescue plan aims to save lives faster and more efficiently as extreme weather events increase due to climate change.
“Drones aren’t the only answer, but they’re a powerful part of our new strategy,” said a PDMA official.
If successful, the model may be expanded to other provinces across Pakistan, potentially setting a national standard for disaster response modernization.
