Empty declarations

It is nothing concrete that the federal cabinet declared a climate and agriculture emergency on Wednesday. The announcement followed devastating floods that swept across Punjab and other regions, displacing millions and wiping out farmland. While the move may sound decisive, Pakistan has been here many times before. The real test is whether this declaration will lead to meaningful action or fade into bureaucratic routine.

The scale of destruction is alarming. The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority reports that more than 4,400 villages have been affected. With vast tracts of crops lost, the threat of food inflation hangs heavy, compounding the economic strain already faced by households. Yet, instead of immediate remedial measures, the response has followed a familiar script: a special committee has been formed, TORs are to be devised and a report will be presented in due course. For farmers staring at ruined livelihoods, such timelines offer little respite. Since 2022, Pakistan has endured devastating floods from the north to the south.

Each time, promises of comprehensive plans have been made, only to be forgotten once waters recede. If this pattern continues, calling yet another "emergency" will become a meaningless exercise. The federal government is right to involve provinces in the process, as climate disasters cut across regional boundaries. However, political rivalries have often derailed coordination, with the people left to bear the consequences. What is needed is more than meetings and reports: immediate compensation for farmers, transparent mechanisms for relief distribution, investment in disaster preparedness, and early-warning systems and resilient infrastructure.

Climate change is not a passing phase but a permanent reality for Pakistan. If the government is serious about its declaration, it must deliver results on the ground rather than confine itself to statements.