ALMOST two years after the landslide and forming of the Attabad Lake due to flooding, the lives of the people of Hunza are no better. Owing to the landslide at least 13 people were killed and six others injured, about hundred kanal of land and many houses were destroyed.

At least 30,000 people belonging to Upper Hunza Gojal were cut off from the rest of Pakistan as a consequence of the forming of the lake and blocking of the Karakoram Highway. The highway also links Pakistan with China, making trading easier between the two countries. Besides, at least 2,500 students have become internally displaced people due to the blocking of the highway, bringing their studies to an abrupt stop.

If the year 2010 was full of suffering for the people of Hunza, the start of 2012 has proved to be no better due to biting winds and the harsh cold.

Even two years after the natural disaster, the people of Attabad Valley are still looking for justice and basic necessities of life being provided to them. It seems the government has yet to do something to rebuild the damaged area and providerehabilitation to the victims.

Although on May 21 2010, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had visited Hunza and given an assurance of providing succour to all affected people, little has been done so far.

Furthermore, armed forces who have been working on a spillway to get rid of the water in Attabad are not well-equipped for the vital task before them.

They need to be provided with more and better equipment to carry out their work at a brisk pace.

Moreover, on June 17, 2010, the local people working on widening the spillway were stopped by the police who assured them that the government would carry out the work as soon as possible, but nothing was done.

The government must provide justice and compensate the victims.

EJAZ KARIMLahore