Engr. S. Khan
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), with its valleys, forests, and mountains, has long been Pakistan’s natural shield against climate extremes. Its forests once absorbed torrential rains, stabilized slopes, and regulated river flows. But unchecked deforestation, illegal logging, population pressure, and unsustainable development have stripped the province of this ecological buffer. As tree cover disappears, rainfall that once seeped into the soil now rushes downslope, eroding land, destabilizing mountains, and triggering floods and landslides.
Climate change has worsened the situation. Rising global temperatures have altered South Asia’s monsoon cycle, making rainfall more erratic and intense. In KP’s degraded terrain, this often translates into flash floods, sudden downpours, and landslides that devastate lives and livelihoods.
The August 2025 monsoon disaster revealed how environmental neglect magnifies natural hazards. Districts such as Buner, Swat, Bajaur, Mansehra, Shangla, and Battagram faced catastrophic floods and landslides. Buner was hit hardest, losing up to 300 lives, while province-wide fatalities crossed 340 with hundreds missing. In Swabi, a sudden downpour killed at least 15 people and submerged neighborhoods. Meteorologists explained that overlapping rain systems magnified the downpours—but it was deforestation and weak ecological resilience that turned heavy rains into disaster.
Role of Pakistan Army in Rescue & Rehabilitation
The devastation overwhelmed local authorities, making the Pakistan Army’s role crucial. Using its manpower, logistics, and technical expertise, the Army conducted life-saving operations where civil institutions had collapsed.
Troops, engineers, and medics were deployed within hours to affected districts. Families trapped by collapsed bridges were evacuated with boats and improvised rafts, while specialized teams with sniffer dogs searched for the missing. Army engineers worked with the National Highway Authority to clear blocked roads and erect temporary bridges, restoring access to cut-off valleys.
Field hospitals and camps provided emergency care and vaccinations, while helicopters evacuated the critically injured and delivered supplies to remote areas of Shangla and Swat. Soldiers distributed tents, food, blankets, hygiene kits, and drinking water in coordination with NDMA and PDMA. The Army also secured relief camps and assisted the civil administration in maintaining law and order.
The Chief of Army Staff personally visited the affected areas, pledging sustained Army support for both relief and long-term rehabilitation, including roads, schools, and essential infrastructure.
How Deforestation Amplified the Floods
Although triggered by strong monsoon systems, the floods were magnified by deforestation, which stripped the land of natural defenses. Bare slopes could not absorb rainfall, turning hillsides into torrents that swept away farms, homes, and communities. Without forests to regulate water flow, rivers were overwhelmed within hours. Uprooted vegetation also left terrain unstable, making districts like Swat and Buner prone to landslides.
Experts from the Pakistan Meteorological Department and conservation organizations have directly linked forest loss to the scale of these floods. At a 2023 seminar, SDPI and the Sarhad Conservation Network warned that illegal logging was systematically raising disaster risk despite major projects like the Billion Tree Tsunami. Weak governance and sanctioned timber extractions continue to undermine reforestation efforts.
What Must Be Done
To prevent future tragedies, KP must adopt long-term resilience measures. Afforestation should be expanded in vulnerable catchments with active community involvement, while strict action is needed against illegal logging and poor forest governance.
Disaster preparedness must be strengthened through early warning systems, durable flood defenses, and climate-resilient evacuation routes. Development planning should integrate climate risk assessments to ensure resilient infrastructure. At the same time, community training in watershed management, erosion control, and first-response can empower locals to protect their environment and respond effectively to emergencies.
A Call to Action
The 2025 floods were not only a natural disaster but also a man-made one, intensified by decades of deforestation. While the Pakistan Army saved countless lives through relief operations, such interventions will become routine unless KP restores its ecological defenses.
The loss of forests is no longer just an environmental issue—it is a survival issue. Rebuilding homes and roads is futile if they are washed away each monsoon. The only sustainable way forward is to restore forests, curb deforestation, and strengthen both ecological and human resilience.
