The destruction caused by the recent floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), which have already claimed over 400 lives, is beyond words. 291 individuals lost their lives in Buner alone, one of the most severely affected areas. This is an unimaginable loss that illustrates the wrath of a raging river and the fragility of those compelled to live in its path. The torrents proved too strong for encroachments masquerading as “development.” Due to the unrelenting rain, families who buried their loved ones had to cover the graves with plastic tarps. This disaster was not unavoidable. Even if floods and rains are changing due to climate change, prompt action could have lessened the amount of mortality and damage. Rather, we witness footage of entire houses being carried away and the last moments of desperate people being caught on camera by defenseless onlookers.
KP’s floods are reminiscent of those the country faced in 2022, but lessons that ought to have been learned are being disregarded. Although it is admirable that the prime minister traveled to the impacted regions and admitted the government’s inadequacies, thousands of families’ losses cannot be reversed by such an apology. According to a recent assessment by Islamic Relief, homes and farmland have been extensively destroyed, and 60% of people in Buner and Swat have lost their means of subsistence. Stories of families being obliterated and only a single survivor remaining to grieve are hidden under the numbers. If they are not supported by prompt, significant action, words of condolence and symbolic visits will be ineffective. Pakistan must face its own shortcomings even if it has been an outspoken advocate for climate justice on the international front, putting out a compelling argument for help and reparations from wealthier countries.
The unregulated deforestation that makes way for profitable housing societies is not the fault of wealthy nations. The lack of timely alerts and the lack of contemporary instruments for predicting catastrophic weather are not their fault. They also don’t dictate our government’s failure to establish explicit procedures for flood situations. We are to blame for these mistakes, which increase the dangers that climate change presents. The way floods behave has evolved. Flash floods increasingly occur without much notice in areas where water levels used to rise gradually enough to permit evacuation. Only a few weeks ago, a flood carried away dozens of tourists. However, the state still lacks effective disaster management procedures. How many more tragedies need to happen before authorities realize that climate adaptation is an existential requirement rather than a choice? Before turning to the outside world for assistance, the government must fix its own house. Stricter enforcement of illegal encroachments, extensive reforestation, early-warning system investment, and quick response mechanisms to evacuate areas at risk are all necessary to build climate resilience. Is the government paying attention?
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