KARACHI: While appealing for contribution towards rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts currently under way in Pakistan, the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P) has called upon all relevant stakeholders, including federal, provincial and local governments and disaster management agencies, to work together on a robust national flood policy that focuses on adaptation.

“As one of the countries most threatened by extreme weather, Pakistan’s current crisis is a calamity in itself, but also a warning about what the future holds,” Hammad Naqi Khan, the director general of the WWF-P, stated.

Monsoons, he said, were essential for irrigating crops and replenishing groundwater and water reservoirs. This year, with precipitation as high as 600 per cent over the average; many parts of the country had been submerged.

“The occurrence, frequency, and scale of the rains are clearly linked with climate change; the impacts of which will be felt long after this water drains.”

Stakeholders urged to work together for national flood policy

According to WWF-P experts, a significant amount of damage in floods has occurred due to poor land use planning and disregard for the environmental systems.

“While flooding is one of the most damaging natural disasters, losses primarily emanate from poor flood risk management. After the catastrophic floods of 2010, we had over 10 years to prepare ourselves. However, our responses continue to be reactive,” said Mr Khan.

He emphasized that all relevant stakeholders, including federal, provincial and local governments, disaster management agencies, non-profit and non-government entities must work together on a robust national flood policy that focuses on adaptation.

Dr Masood Arshad, Senior Director Footprint at WWF-P, explained that though climate change had driven this tragedy; with changing monsoon patterns and extremely high localised rainfall; a significant amount of damage had been due to poor land use planning and disregard for the environmental systems that drive our economies. This included encroachment on river beds and construction on floodplains.

“Our response to the challenge must be multifaceted. To be in a position where we can appropriately address flood risks, we must begin by limiting development in flood prone areas and improve our forecasting and evacuating systems,” he said.

The experts called for formulating a strategy that takes into consideration the environment and addresses the challenges of widespread rains and floods of high magnitude.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2022