PUNJAB:
Following the promulgation of the 18th amendment, the federating units were given greater autonomy to strengthen their respective governance structures. Various surveys point out that Punjab and K-P have made greater strides on the economic and social fronts since then. However, the other two provinces, namely Balochistan and Sindh, have largely remained impoverished, evident from widespread poverty, lawlessness and weak healthcare and educational infrastructures.
Recent floods have further exposed inherent weaknesses as the two provinces failed to provide timely relief to citizens. As per media reports, Punjab and K-P managed to attract significant relief aid due to the aggressive running of media campaigns by social activists to sensitise civil society and government authorities on the calamity wreaking havoc. But Balochistan and Sindh failed badly on this front as they were unable to generate a powerful voice for relief. Besides the floods, people in large numbers in Balochistan and Sindh are struggling to survive in the wake of water-borne diseases, and the respective governments have no plans to save them due to nearly non-existent healthcare infrastructure.
While the governments of Punjab and K-P have announced relief packages for flood-ridden families — from providing scholarships to students to monetary aid to distressed families — the governments of Sindh and Balochistan have yet to unveil any such plans. The residents of the two provinces have every right to question their elected leaders on their failure to deliver on their mandate.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2022.
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