Govt asked to seek compensation, not aid for flood devastation
Flooding in parts of Pakistan has affected over 33 million people, destroyed 1.7 million homes and killed nearly 1,500 people. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Trade unionists, labour leaders and civil society activists have said that the recent devastating rains and floods have been caused by climate change and Pakistan should demand compensation, not aid, from the industrialized nations which are the biggest polluters.
They expressed these views during an event organized under the chairmanship of Sindh Minister of Labour and Manpower Saeed Ghani. Speakers included former MNA Chaudhry Manzoor, President of Peoples Labour Bureau Habibuddin Junadi, Aslam Samoon, Zahra Khan, Comrade Nasir, Zulfiqar Shah, Akhlaq Ahmed, Manzoor Razi, and Karamat Ali Khan.
Speaking on the occasion, Saeed Ghani said that the ongoing floods have rendered millions of people homeless in Sindh. By combining the resources of Sindh government, foreign assistance, NDMA and PDMA and charitable institutions, tents have not been provided to all of the homeless people.
Orders have been placed for tents not only with Pakistani but also foreign manufacturers, Ghani said, adding, "we all have to join hands for the rehabilitation of the victims and also against climate change," he said.
Chaudhry Manzoor, who was also the chief guest, said that Pakistan is one of the biggest victims of climate change, while labourers are the biggest victims of the situation arising from the recent devastating climatic event in the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 29th, 2022.