KARACHI:
On Wednesday, Karachi received its first spell of the monsoon season with most areas witnessing heavy rain and gusty winds. Given that the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had long warned of the monsoon rains and the Ministry of Climate Change announced the risk of urban flooding, one would expect some preparedness from the municipal authorities and utility departments to tackle the challenges emerging from the upcoming monsoon season.
However, just 30 minutes of rain were enough to prove that all the warnings have fallen on deaf ears. With the onset of the rain, most areas witnessed power outages for long hours. The sewerage or drainage system is still in poor shape because rainwater was accumulated on roads and residential areas across the city. Even though the rainfall was up to a moderate level and lasted only a few minutes, it resulted in fatalities and caused disruptions to routine lives. The already dilapidated roads became even more dangerous to drive upon because of which many chose to wait for the rain to stop and then leave for their homes from work. In the past, heavy rains have wreaked havoc in Karachi causing major problems for the citizens.
The authorities continue shifting the blame on one another and fail to accept responsibility and work on improving the situation. It is high time that municipal authorities and the provincial government work collaboratively to prevent the risks of urban flooding. Also, K-Electric must at least warn citizens of the load shedding instead of simply cutting electric supply for hours.
Ashfaq Sharif
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2022.
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