Monsoon misery

As another spell of monsoon rainfall grips the country, the devastation continues unchecked. At least six more lives were lost in the past two days, pushing the death toll to a staggering 271 since the season began in late June. The recurring scenes of collapsing roofs, flash floods and drowning are not new. What is worrying however is the apparent lack of urgency in adopting long-term mitigation strategies despite this yearly carnage.

NDMA continues to report fatalities from preventable causes, while provincial and local governments scramble to respond reactively instead of proactively. In provinces like Balochistan and Punjab - where the latest deaths were reported — poor urban planning and the absence of early warning systems magnify the damage.

In urban centres like Karachi, where only drizzle and strong winds are forecast this week, the fear of waterlogging, electrocutions and road accidents still looms large due to decades of underinvestment in drainage and public safety. Pakistan's vulnerability to monsoon-related disasters is neither accidental nor unpredictable.

Climate change has intensified weather patterns, but governance gaps have compounded their impact. From encroachments on natural waterways to the absence of risk zoning in residential planning, the system is designed to fail under pressure. The result: hundreds dead and entire communities displaced every year.

There is no shortage of plans or policies. What is missing is implementation. Disaster resilience must become central to urban and rural planning. Local governments must be equipped to clear drains before the rains arrive and ensure emergency response systems are adequately funded and staffed. Community-level awareness campaigns, which include evacuation drills, and climate-resilient infrastructure projects need to be developed to foster resilience within vulnerable communities. With further rainfall forecast in the coming days, the authorities must at least move to limit additional harm.