City in despair as authorities continue blame game before heavy showers

PDMA DG terms expected heavy rains a rumour

KARACHI: Be it rising crime rate, a terrorism incident or a natural disaster, whenever Karachi faces some crisis, all responsible authorities start blaming each other. The same phenomenon has been witnessed these days after a monsoon system hit the city again.

In all the statements issued by Karachi mayor, he has seldom mentioned his arrangements of the cleaning of storm water drains or his back-up plans. What he has been doing is wailing for want of power and resources, implying that he will not be responsible if any mishap occurs in the city.

On the other hand, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has not even regretted that it issued a late warning and advisory - just two days ago - asking all the authorities including the municipality and health department to remain well prepared for the rainfall.



PDMA Director-General (DG) Salman Shah, while talking to The Express Tribune, denied that there were any chances of heavy rain and termed it as a rumour what has been officially forecast by the Pakistan Meteorological Department.

Shah added that what all the PDMA could do during heavy rain is provision of shelter and food, and arrangements of boats which also the authority does not have in large numbers. However, he said the PDMA is ready with hundreds of tents and food packages in case of an emergency situation.

Responding to a question about civic authorities, Shah claimed that they were not well prepared for heavy rains.



The officials of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and cantonment boards were reluctant to admit that they were all prepared in case heavy rains hit the city. A sanitary incharge of a cantonment board told The Express Tribune that rains were a natural phenomena and they could not fight against nature.

A senior director of KMC admitted that the provincial and local government both lack the will to serve the city. The KMC could hardly do anything when the local and provincial governments are not on the same page, he lamented, adding that the political parties take advantage of such a messy condition of the city and use it against each other for political point scoring.

Local Bodies Minister Jam Khan Shoro criticised the Karachi mayor for his complains about lack of powers. Instead of asking for more powers, he should make sure that the city faces no tough situation, said the minister.



Former Karachi administrator Fahim Zaman commented that the city has always been mistreated and its residents should not expect any good from the authorities. “The city will continue to feed the poor and rich but no one will think about its condition," he said, adding that the city has been facing a crisis of management for many decades.

Zaman further said the storm water drains were always there in the city. However, with time the authorities stopped caring about the drainage system. Many of those drains are now hidden under high-rise plazas, he remarked.

Those crying for resources and powers should remember that when they were in full power, they never cared for the city and its condition worsened under their rule. There is no hope for any betterment from them now, Zaman concluded.



Officials of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board and Karachi Water and Sewerage Board were not available for comments despite several attempts.

Weather forecast

According to Met office spokesperson Dr Abdul Rashid, the monsoon system has entered the province and as a result southern districts, including Badin Thatta, Tharparkar and Hyderabad have experienced heavy rain with gusty winds. Soon Karachi will also receive heavy rainfall, he said.

Dr Rashid added that the system will remain intensified until Friday resulting in heavy downpours in the coastal areas of Sindh and south eastern Balochistan, including catchment areas of Hub Dam.