PARTS of Balochistan, eastern Sindh and lower Punjab have almost been swept away by the recent rains, causing devastation in major parts of the country. This happened when the majority of the nation and the relevant authorities were busy watching the political circus in Punjab, where the opposition and coalition government were embroiled in a war for the ‘crown of Punjab’.

The rains undoubtedly caused havoc and flooded large areas in cities, like Karachi, Lahore, Multan and many more. However, Balochistan, rural Sindh and lower Punjab have seen much greater devastation, with hundreds of deaths in these areas alone, while thousands of houses collapsed, bringing life there to a halt.

One of the viral images on social media is of a helpless father clutching the lifeless body of his young daughter, who got drowned in the river. Another image from Balochistan shows a decaying body of a man, washed away, resting on a tree. Even more disturbing is the image of a dead toddler on a floating mat.

It is important to remember the victims from Sindh and Punjab, who have lost practically everything, including their loved ones and means of support. Everyone who has been affected should get due care and assistance without any waste of time.

It will be infinitely better if all political parties across the divide may focus on rescue missions instead of indulging in political gimmickry in these troubled times.

Muhammad Firas Qureshi
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2022