Ready for rain?

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has reported that monsoon rains will hit Karachi relatively early this year as initial showers are expected during the last week of June. It is also predicted that rainfall will be far greater than last year’s record-breaking monsoon rains owing to climate change. There will also be greater destruction than what Karachiites witnessed a year ago, unless officials have learnt from past mistakes and have since acted accordingly.

As the threat looms over the urban populace, we are forced to ask: is Karachi ready for the predicted onslaught of heavy monsoon rainfall? Can the financial capital of the city bare another devastating event in the midst of economic recession? Are the vulnerable truly protected? Town planners claim that urban flooding is a direct consequence of a weak drainage system whose arteries remain blocked either by mountains of garbage or by illegal construction. To ensure that last year’s flooding doesn’t repeat itself, KMC along with other organisations has been working for the past year on clearing these drainage lines by demolishing shanties and buildings, and covering up strips of open drainage. Only time will tell if this has indeed been a worthwhile exercise carried out with sincerity and we hope that it will reduce the damage that is about to ensue. However, the initiative has mostly been carried out in posh areas of the city. The 65% of Karachi’s population that live in large slums have been horribly neglected. They are at risk of being ravaged by severe flooding that could possibly lead to many casualties.

The relevant authorities must develop SOPs for those living in these highly populated areas and ensure that safety precautions are being taken to minimise damage. Other companies are yet to issue announcements in this regard as broken live wires remain a serious threat. An honest analysis would be that nothing radical has been done and Karachi will struggle to stay afloat. But we pray for the best.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2022.

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