UNFORTUNATELY, Pakistan has become an inhospitable and a hostile country to live in, thanks to the wrong priorities of most politicians.

The torrential rains and floods have damaged Sindh and Balochistan, left millions of people homeless, and affected 90pc of the crops in these two provinces alone. Pakistan, as it happens, is not the only country in the world to be hit by natural calamities. Countries around the globe prepare before the disaster strikes. They build dams and construct infrastructure that is immune to such disasters because they value life and property of their citizens.

In Pakistan, the scenario is just the opposite. Nothing is safe here. If someone is caught in a calamity-hit zone, there is no chance of an immediate rescue. I cannot forget the tragic death of four people who were swept away while waiting for a rescue helicopter.

We do have helicopters in the country, but merely for VIPs or for occasions like the Pakistan Day parade. It is time to shift our priorities for a humanitarian cause.

Basit Muhammad
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2022