Overdue response

Two news stories are simultaneously plastered across different platforms in Pakistan. One: heavy rains cause flooding and deaths across the country. Two: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directs federal and provincial authorities to prepare for the 'upcoming' monsoon season. The irony is cruelly apparent and doesn't need to be spelt out loud. Much to the evergreen dismay of the general public, it isn't shocking either.

But if we were to play along with the government's emergency plans for just a moment, there are several things that need to be said. Every year, without fail, people lose their lives during the monsoon season in Pakistan. Open wires in rainwater cause fatal electric shocks; centuries-old, dilapidated buildings crumble and collapse under clouds; billboards and signs break down and trap people underneath. Or in the northern part of the country, flash floods simply sweep unsuspecting victims away.

Therefore, there must be targeted efforts that accompany the directive to establish a national emergency response mechanism for the monsoon season. Dispersed efforts to clean drains are not going to be adequate when the country has ignored climate-resilient infrastructure for the rest of eight months. The work must match the dangers. Electric wires and flimsy billboards should be secured, hazardous buildings must be evacuated and then, on top of that, the drains must be cleaned.

While authorities in Karachi have already ordered families to immediately evacuate buildings at-risk, ensuring that the order is followed through is also the government's responsibility. High-risk areas in the northern parts of the country must relay public service warnings when necessary. And the proposed emergency fund must remain front and centre before any situation escalates further than necessary. Moreover, oft-heavily-flooded Karachi needs a proper plan in the face of widespread excavation that is bound to not fare well against heavy rains! There is much work to be done, and despite the delay, it must now be done well.