ISLAMABAD:
The political crisis in Pakistan could not have come at a worse time. FROM record monsoon rains provoked a catastrophe of epic scale, acute political animosity took the center of attention off in millions of unfortunate souls left mercy of raging waters.
Unprecedented flooding affected more than 30 million people over in last few weeks in “climate-induced humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions.” However, a trifle politics eclipsed attempts to negotiate with the worst disaster in the country.
According to political and environmental experts, government as there was no opposition just fell asleep, but also took a lot of of time to wake up up to terrible misfortune.
There is a growing sense that even when those at the helm of affairs took pain of acting on last minute, “cosmetic measures” did not lead to anything and served only to lull people into a suicidal belief that their “messiahs” had prevented the worst.
Experts say that populist rhetoric has harmed economic reforms and the interests of investors. confidence and coordinated relief efforts for flood- the affected population, speaking more responsive system of management was required instead of just waiting for catastrophe place and then crying over spilled milk.
“The elite of Pakistan, including the political, judicial and military drawn in in bitter power struggle which separated them from the masses,” said PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar. “The media cannot justify themselves either.”
in game of drawing attention, said the PPP stalwart, newsrooms seem to more concerned with who said that. “In this age of science where weather patterns and incidents can be predicted months in advance in forward,” said Khokhar, “completely skipping it and not preparing in Advance has identified our wrong priorities.”
Former chairman of the board of Investment (BoI) Harun Sharif said that “populist and intense politics in Pakistan harms economic reforms, investor confidence and coordinated relief efforts for flood affected population”. Sharif said that “top management should rise above small scores and seriously engage in rehabilitation people and revive economy through structural reforms.
For him it’s only possible if the delegation of power done for key institutions to create space for professionals instead of bureaucrats.
political analyst and well-known journalist Mazhar Abbas expressed regret that general behavior of government and people what do they react instead of timely action; saying “we’re waiting for tragedy, and this is our common behavior.”
According to Abbas, after the 2010 floods, the government should were ready to deal with this kind of situation; They should never allowed people to build houses and hotels near rivers or canals, saying all this who gave NOC for construction in such areas should be carried out responsible.
“Political parties responsible for in current situation because their respective governments responsible for good control instead of waiting for catastrophe place”, Abbas said, adding that the losses could be reduced by 50 percent if proper preparation has been made.
“We wait for disaster everyone year”, – he regretted. As for the rhetoric and optics of politicians, Abbas said that they prefer playing with TV screens, not understanding what message was given people. “Cosmetic expression and worries for short period; we have not grown as a nation,” he said.
political analyst and columnist Mosharraf Zaidi said that “there is a huge cost in Pakistani political discourse does not prioritize floods.” The political scientist said global humanitarian response has slowed and funding has dwindled due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and rising costs and deadlines for transportation.
“Any delay in identification and appeal for global humanitarian support will greatly complicate rescue work and the provision of assistance,” Zaidi warned. He said Pakistan already in grip of major inflationary spike and the floods will make survival difficult for communities whose homes, livestock and lands were flooded.
Sara Hayat, a climate change specialist, said monsoon rains are expected every year. year in Pakistan and the country have been waiting for them year also but government was not ready to say that should be really excited on this number of there would be far fewer victims if there were any of preparation.
Flooding occurs in Pakistan every year, according to a climate change expert. of one way or another, and whether governments were prepared in in advance, number of victims of people and livestock would be reduced and the evacuation process could be accelerated and planned in advance.
“In the face of political instability,” Sarah said, “attention is not on in real problems that the country is suffering from, including floods caused by climate change.”
Another thing she emphasized was that the damage and casualties caused it didn’t rain just because of climate change, saying they also because of “bad planning” and because of “encroachment on flood- sensitive or flood vulnerabilities” like buildings that collapsed in various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“They are should have never been built in those areas to begin withSarah said, people who granted permits and licenses should be carried out responsible for This.” Similarly, according to her, the harvest should never cultivate in flood-sensitive areas like this one of reasons why pakistan suffered such huge losses of cotton and date crops, among others, in Balochistan and Sindh because people was allowed live in areas where they should never allowed to settle.
As soon Sarah said that when the situation calms down a little, governments should survey the floodplain to avoid these species of casualties, damage and loss of life and livelihood in in future.
“Floodplain estimates should be carried out and people cannot be settled in or grow crops or build in flood-prone areas,” she concluded.
Summed up the well-known lawyer Salman Akram Raja. up in current the situation is as accurate as possible in one of his tweets.
“We facing the largest deployment of people animal and food stocks since 1947,” Raja said, saying: “We allow down East Pakistanis during the 1970 cyclone.” test like a nation over again Raja asked: “Will we find unity, focus and resolve to rebuild life”, saying: “we need real leadership”.
