Nature is taking its own sweet revenge on us. While Sindh and Punjab are in the grip of a torturous heatwave, parts of Balochistan are at the mercy of torrential rains. On Sunday, the death toll due to heavy rains reached six in addition to leaving 25 people injured. For a country that has barely recovered from the 2022 floods, these deadly rains have once again raised alarm bells. The situation turned so bad that the N-70 highway, which connects Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Balochistan had to be closed for traffic. Pakistan is about to enter the monsoon season, and escaping heavy rains is virtually impossible for the country. Since the beginning of the year, rains across the country have killed dozens of people. In April, lightning strikes and rain-related incidents led to the deaths of at least 143 people. On top of it all, infrastructural damage and the diseases spread due to standing water add more problems for people, who are often left on their own.
This time, authorities are saying they are better prepared to deal with any untoward situations. According to Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Romina Khurshid Alam, the government is taking comprehensive measures to prepare for potential floods ahead of the monsoon season. The climate change ministry is said to be working with the relevant departments to assess flood vulnerability in flood-prone areas across the country. For now, the ministry is working towards establishing relief camps in different parts to provide essential amenities like food, shelter, and medicines to the affected people. Shelters are also being set up to provide animals with emergency aid and other care. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to personally supervise the response to any emergency situation, and instructed the National Disaster Management Authority to assist all provincial governments and related institutions. Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Senator Sherry Rehman has also presented the annual climate agenda before the committee and called for additional meetings to discuss preparations for the upcoming monsoon season.
All of this is commendable, but we also have to see if these measures are long term. In 2022, shelters were set up on the outskirts of urban cities, allowing the affected people to stay temporarily. But most of them complained about the spread of diseases, lack of food, and no security. This was met by silence on the part of the government. Volunteers who went to help the refugees were also accused of rude behaviour. The government has to work on this. Climate-disaster-affected people are already under a lot of stress. It is not easy for a person to leave all of his/her belongings behind and live in tents. The emotional toll that these migrations take should be acknowledged by authorities. People in urban areas should also be told about the measures they can take to protect themselves from heavy rains and to help the affected. Over the last few years, the country has been witnessing climate catastrophes one after another. It is time all of us got united to help the people tackle the climate change challenge. And once the urgency of these measures is over, it is all the more important to chalk out a plan for building sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure.