Poor governance blamed for flood losses

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has said that the recent floods across the country are not merely "natural disasters" but a direct consequence of human negligence and poor governance.

The commission pointed to reports from south Punjab, parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, highlighting extensive loss of lives and property, which it linked to unchecked encroachments, deforestation, corruption, and environmental disregard.

While relief operations are underway, the HRCP warned that the scale of assistance is far from adequate. It called for the immediate deployment of more relief teams, the establishment of additional camps, and equitable access to food, shelter, clean water, and healthcare.

The statement emphasised that vulnerable groups — including women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities — must be prioritized.

The commission described those displaced by the floods as "climate refugees" who deserve long-term rehabilitation.

It urged the government to provide sustainable housing and livelihood opportunities, warning that failure to do so would fuel poverty and social unrest.

According to the HRCP, the secondary consequences of the disaster will soon unfold in the form of rising food prices, large-scale migration towards cities, and the breakdown of already overburdened urban infrastructure.

With vast tracts of farmland submerged and crops destroyed, food supply chains are expected to face serious disruptions, creating both an economic and humanitarian crisis.

The commission stressed that piecemeal or short-term measures would not suffice. Instead, it urged the establishment of empowered and resourceful local governments to ensure preparedness and swift response at the community level.

It also called for the revitalization of civil defence institutions, modernisation of early warning systems, and prioritization of climate-resilient infrastructure.