RECORD rains in the month of August have wreaked havoc in Karachi. Life has paralyzed in the provincial capital with roads wearing a look of nullahs due to the heavy rains. Breakdown of mobile data and phone services caused by extended electricity outages has added to the woes of the people as they are left with no means to contact their family members, friends and colleagues.
Whilst Pak Army is engaged in hectic rescue and relief operations in the provincial metropolis, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday discussed the situation with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and assured of all possible help from the Federation and its agencies. Indeed it is not a time for politicking and point scoring but to sit together and take joint and immediate steps to bring relief in the life of Karachiites. Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also hoped the Centre will play its constitutional role in dealing with the situation arising of heavy monsoon downpours. Karachi is the commercial capital of Pakistan and all resources must be utilized to cope with the current emergency. It is also for other provinces especially Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to come forward and assist the Sindh government in whatever way they could to restore normalcy. As the rains are continuing, the first focus should remain to shift the marooned people to the safer places and provide them with tents and ration. Then as the rains subside, those badly affected by the rains and lost their homes must be fully compensated after a detailed survey. This amount should be disbursed in the most transparent manner without any discrimination. There is a need for a long-term planning to avert such a situation in future. For this, we will suggest the federal and provincial governments to sit together and map out a comprehensive development plan for the city keeping in view its longstanding problems especially those of sewerage, sanitation, water and transport. Expert Opinion can also be sought as to how to prevent urban flooding. Creating new districts in Karachi will not solve its issues but a fully empowered local government can.
