Rain, rain, go away

Winter rains, it seems, have overstayed this time around in Pakistan. With the exception of Sindh, all other regions including Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan continue to receive winter showers with varying intensity in different areas.

At least 26 people are reported to have died during a three-day-long new spell of rains. Life came to a standstill with communications and supply of power disrupted and roads closed in many parts of the country, especially in Punjab and Northern Areas.

It has also triggered an unusual cold wave across the country, with temperatures falling as low as minus 13 degrees Celsius in Kalam. The rains have displaced small settlements in several villages, with some people reported to have been trapped in streams and small rivers.

Experts say that this shift in weather pattern could be attributed to the phenomenon of climatic change being witnessed the world over. The rains — coming after a long dry spell in parts of the country like Balochistan,

Thar and Karachi — should have been welcomed as nature’s blessings. But it is mostly mismanagement on the part of the authorities that this blessing turns into misery for the people.

Take the case of Balochistan, where the provincial government declared emergency in Lasbela district on Wednesday and sought help from the Pakistan Army after torrential rains lashed the city and led to flash floods in adjoining areas. Flooding and overflowing of streams was also reported from other cities including Chaman, Gwadar and Turbat.

While the latest rainy spell may come to an end by the end of this week, as predicted by the Pakistan Meteorological Department, they are a reminder to the federal and provincial governments to work out plans for storage of floodwater by building small dams and reservoirs at the local level to help overcome the problem of water scarcity.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2019.

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