KARACHI:
Pakistan is passing through one of the most difficult periods of its history as the floods have submerged a third of its landmass, and one in seven Pakistanis is badly affected by the deluge. The scale of devastation is so enormous that it is not possible for the government to cope with the flood devastation through local resources. The UN role is commendable during the current catastrophe. Before his visit to Pakistan earlier this month, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had launched a flash appeal for humanitarian assistance worth $160 million which, he himself later realised, is not enough to meet the gigantic needs of the country.
At a joint presser in Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Secretary General Guterres urged the international community to extend massive support to the flood-hit Pakistan. The UN chief called upon the international community to unite and help Pakistan in rebuilding its infrastructure and give relief to the victims. Guterres has rightly told the world that if Pakistan is a victim of this natural disaster today then it could be any other country tomorrow. He promised that he would continue to raise his voice for the people and the government of Pakistan in this hour of calamity.
Our government needs to understand that climate change is a continuous phenomenon which poses recurrent cataclysms for unsafe regions. While our relevant authorities carry out reconstruction and rehabilitation, they must keep in mind that they need to adopt climate-resilient measures so as to limit any future destruction as much as possible.
Jauhar Abbas
Parachinar
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2022.
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