Governor Kundi emphasized enhanced global aid for merged districts

PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Apr, 2026) Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Tuesday emphasized the need for increased support from international humanitarian organizations for the province, particularly the merged districts, which still require greater global attention.

He expressed these views while talking to a two-member delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), led by its Peshawar head Bruno Radicchi, at the Governor House. ICRC Deputy Head Zartasha was also present on the occasion.

The Governor appreciated the ongoing cooperation of the ICRC with the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and highlighted its role in humanitarian assistance.

He said that Afghan refugees crossing through the Torkham border face multiple challenges due to a lack of facilities, adding that directions have been issued to the PRCS to extend maximum support. However, he stressed that further assistance from international organizations would be essential.

Kundi said that residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially those in the merged districts, require improved access to basic facilities, which cannot be ensured without the support of global partners.

Earlier, the delegation briefed the Governor on ICRC’s ongoing activities in the province. They informed that the organization is working in close coordination with the PRCS, health department, police, and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).

The ICRC is currently providing emergency medical services to 17 health facilities across the merged districts, including Bajaur, Kurram, Upper Kurram, North and South Waziristan, Bannu, Khyber, and Dera Ismail Khan. Rehabilitation work at the emergency department of District Headquarters Hospital Bannu and Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Sadda has also been completed.

The delegation further informed that the ICRC had recently provided emergency assistance to displaced populations in Bajaur and Kurram, while contingency planning is underway in Chitral in view of possible emergencies.

The ICRC operates in Pakistan under a headquarters agreement and derives its mandate from the Geneva Conventions, functioning as a neutral, impartial, and independent humanitarian organization.

It is also implementing programs related to first aid and emergency care, restoration of family links, disaster response, national society development, and risk awareness and safer behavior promotion in collaboration with the PRCS in Peshawar, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Kurram, and Bajaur.

The delegation reaffirmed its commitment to continue cooperation with the PRCS and appreciated the Governor’s interest and people-friendly approach.