Communication Lifelines: PTA Steps In After Flash Floods

When floods strike, one of the first casualties is often communication. This has been the case in parts of northern Pakistan, where flash floods have damaged cellular towers and fixed-line networks. For families and rescue workers alike, the silence has been deafening.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced that teams are now working with telecom operators to restore services in Buner and other affected areas. Officials met with Federal Minister Amir Muqam and PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan to discuss the scale of disruption and outline strategies for rapid recovery.

According to a PTA spokesperson, several communication sites were damaged as water levels rose, cutting off large sections of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from reliable signals. Without network access, rescue teams face greater challenges in coordinating relief and reaching stranded residents.

For locals, mobile networks are not just about convenience — they are lifelines. In disaster zones, a working phone call can mean food delivery, medical aid, or simply letting loved ones know they are safe. That is why PTA emphasized that communication must be restored quickly, as it underpins the wider relief mission.

Technical staff are currently deployed in affected regions to repair damaged equipment. Mobile network providers have also been asked to activate contingency plans, including backup power sources and satellite-based connectivity where conventional infrastructure remains down.

As Pakistan continues to face the effects of extreme weather, strengthening telecom resilience has become a pressing issue. Industry experts note that building climate-resilient systems, such as elevated towers and flood-proof power backups, could help mitigate similar breakdowns in the future.

The current efforts, however, remain focused on one urgent goal: reconnecting people in need.