The floods that have ravaged Pakistan for past few years, displacing millions of poor, are more of a man-made disaster, than a natural disaster. Pakistan gets least quantum of rains in the monsoon season that is a regular seasonal feature in South East Asia. Unfortunately, inspite of this moderate rainfall that impacts Pakistan, the damage has been out of proportion to intensity of rainfall. Roads, bridges, dams and embankments which are built according to specification in Thailand, Malaysia etc withstand ravages of more intense and frequent rains. Monsoon rains have fallen in the region that comprises Pakistan for centuries.
Absence of adequate dams for storage of excess water, alongwith deforestation and substandard construction of infrastructure due rampant corruption in past few years have contributed to excessive damage, even in moderate to slightly heavy rainfall. When corrupt executives are appointed to NHA, Irrigation and Public Works Department and contracts awarded solely on basis of kickbacks, than roads, bridges and embankments will disintegrate, even in moderate rainfall. Billions of rupees have been disbursed to MNAs and MPAs for development works in their constituencies and similar development budgets are at disposal of provincial government. Even in a city like Karachi, which alone has received more billions than rest of Sind, moderate to low rains result in collapse of infrastructure, which points to dismal quality of construction that has taken place in past decade.
Absence of accountability and poor governance has only further aggravated the situation. When elected and paid public office holders are instrumental in awarding contracts to firms in which they have a conflict of interest, than construction will be defective and rain water will lead to floods which could be avoided. In a country where land and construction mafia assumes the role of kingmakers, the elite benefits from the miseries of poor masses. As long as corrupt bureaucrats, engineers, contractors and public representatives are not given exemplary punishment, the poor of this country will continue to suffer.
M T ALI
Lahore