WATER POLITICS

As the world grapples with the escalating effects of climate change, Pakistan finds itself particularly vulnerable. Torrential rains, deadly floods, and stifling air pollution are not distant threats but immediate realities. Yet, the government’s response remains lethargic, more focused on political maneuvering than meaningful climate action. The country teeters on the brink of a climate disaster, and the government’s inaction is increasingly seen as negligence.

The statistics paint a grim picture. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 99 lives were lost to rain-related incidents in July alone. The devastation is not confined to remote areas but affects major urban centers like Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Quetta. These cities, along with rural and suburban areas, are submerged in water, yet the government’s response appears to be limited to photo ops and empty rhetoric.

In developed nations, the approach to climate change is proactive and comprehensive, involving the development of new cities and the decentralization of resources to reduce the strain on megacities. In Pakistan, however, the focus remains narrowly fixed on political survival. The government’s climate action plan exists more in theory than in practice, often repackaged under new names with little to show in terms of tangible benefits.

The situation is made more perplexing by the fact that meteorologists had issued warnings months in advance. A 35% increase in rainfall was predicted, yet emergency arrangements at the provincial level suggest that these warnings were treated as routine, not as the urgent call to action they should have been. No comprehensive policy was formulated, and crucial management issues remain unaddressed, leaving the country ill-prepared to cope with the consequences of climate change.

The government’s inaction is not just a failure of policy but a failure of leadership. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, who claim to represent the entire country and the province of Punjab, respectively, have remained largely insulated from the crisis. The Prime Minister stays in Islamabad, while the Chief Minister rarely leaves Lahore, ignoring the dire conditions faced by millions of Pakistanis. In the face of this neglect, the public’s frustration is palpable, as they see their leaders more preoccupied with political battles than with safeguarding their lives and livelihoods.

The Minister of Environment Protection and Climate Change, who should be leading the charge against environmental degradation, appears more interested in political sparring than in addressing the pressing issues at hand. The government’s approach revolves around blaming the opposition, offering little in terms of concrete solutions.

Pakistan stands at a critical juncture. The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are only expected to increase, and the need for effective climate mitigation and adaptation strategies has never been more urgent. Building large, medium, and small-scale dams, creating artificial lakes, and developing water reservoirs are not just options but necessities. While an immediate solution to climate change is unattainable, preventive and precautionary measures can significantly mitigate its impact.

The government’s failure to act is not just a dereliction of duty; it is a betrayal of the public trust. Pakistan’s people deserve better than empty promises and political posturing. They deserve a government that prioritizes their welfare and takes decisive action to protect them from the escalating threats of climate change. Until the government shifts its focus from political survival to genuine climate action, Pakistan will remain vulnerable, and its people will continue to suffer the devastating consequences.