PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has constituted a two-member inquiry committee to investigate the boat capsize incident at Lake Saifullah in the Kalam area of Swat district, which claimed the lives of six members of a family. A 17-year-old girl remains missing following the tragedy.
According to a notification issued by the Human Resource Management Department, the committee was formed on the directions of the competent authority to conduct a detailed inquiry into the July 1 accident that resulted in the loss of precious lives.
The inquiry committee comprises Mohammad Ayaz, Secretary of the Inter-Provincial Coordination Department, and Zubair Ahmed, Special Secretary of the Finance Department.
Under its Terms of Reference (ToRs), the committee has been tasked with establishing the facts and reconstructing the sequence of events leading to the accident. It will also examine the circumstances that may have contributed to the tragedy, including the operational condition of the boat, the prevailing conditions at the time of the incident, and any other relevant factors.
The committee will determine whether the boat, its operation and the boating activity were being conducted in accordance with applicable laws, rules, prescribed procedures, permissions and mandatory safety requirements.
It will also assess whether the boat operator possessed the required authorisation, competence and other qualifications stipulated under the relevant legal and regulatory framework. In addition, the committee will evaluate the adequacy of safety arrangements at the site, including the availability and use of lifejackets, rescue equipment, passenger safety measures and compliance with other prescribed safety protocols.
The inquiry will further review the regulatory, supervisory and administrative mechanisms governing boating activities at Lake Saifullah. This includes examining the respective roles and responsibilities of the relevant government departments, local administration and any private operators involved.
The committee has also been directed to identify any procedural, regulatory or administrative shortcomings, if found, and recommend appropriate corrective measures to help prevent similar incidents in the future.