Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs), in coordination with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), have introduced free on-net calls in flood-affected regions to ensure citizens remain connected during the crisis. The facility is available even to subscribers with zero balance.

The PTA said restoration work was continuing in areas where telecom services were disrupted by flash floods, with more than 72 percent of affected sites already operational. The Authority praised CMOs for their timely response and assured continuous monitoring of services in the flood-hit districts.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), recent heavy rains and floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have claimed 313 lives and left 156 injured. Among the victims were 29 women and 21 children, while 159 houses were reported damaged or destroyed.

The PTA stated that telecom infrastructure in several northern areas, including Buner, had been badly impacted. Officials briefed Federal Minister Amir Muqam and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, assuring that restoration of cellular and fixed-line networks was a top priority.

A PTA spokesperson underlined that reliable communication links were essential for rescue and relief operations in the affected communities and reiterated the Authority’s commitment to restoring services at the earliest.