Floods in Pakistan are not just natural disasters; they are man-made tragedies, born from years of neglect, poor planning and reactive governance. This monsoon season has claimed hundreds of lives. Villages in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh have been erased.
The devastation was predictable. Experts warned of extreme weather. Infrastructure remained weak. Drainage systems failed. Relief was delayed. And once again, the poorest paid the highest price.
We must stop treating floods as seasonal surprises. They are recurring alarms — reminders that our disaster management is broken, our urban planning is outdated, and our climate policies are missing in action.
The real tragedy is not just the water. It’s the silence that follows. The lack of accountability. The absence of reform. The forgotten faces of those who suffer year after year.
It’s time to stop romanticising resilience and start demanding responsibility. We need early warning systems, climate-adaptive infrastructure and transparent disaster response — not just sympathy and sandbags.
Let this flood be the last one we ignore.
Rimsha Masood
Rawalpindi
