Monsoon rains: 'Rs 500 million economic cost of immobility in low-lying areas in Lahore'

Up to Rs 500 million per day is the minimum economic cost of immobility in low-lying areas in the Punjab capital city being heavily inundated during the recent monsoon rains, economists have estimated. "This also speaks volumes of the inefficient management of the drainage system by the Water and Sanitation Agency and related departments for restricting their activities to disposing off the rain water by using pumps from these low-lying areas instead of finding a permanent solution," they said.
Flooding is common in the low-lying areas at this time of year. Economist Doctor Qais Aslam said some 20 to 25 percent of the economic activity of Lahore is badly affected whenever there is heavy rain leading to flash floods in the low-lying areas of the city including the Civil Secretariat, Lahore High Court, GPO square, Allama Iqbal International Airport, Queens Road, Lahore Cantonment, Kalma chowk, Islam Pura, Abdali Road, Garden Town, Ferozepur Road, Ichra, Nishtar Colony, Bank Stop, Gulab Devi Hospital and Chungi Amer Siddu.
On early Wednesday morning, there were also reports of flight disruptions and road blockages with several areas facing power outages as the downpour whipped up by strong winds tripped several power feeders. Two people were pulled from the rubble after the roof of house collapsed near the Thokar Niaz Baig area and taken to the Jinnah Hospital where their condition was said to be out of danger. And four members of a family were killed in another roof collapse on the Multan Road and five others received injuries.
Dr Qais said a minimum of four hours workability gets affected because of the floods in the low-lying areas whenever there is heavy rain in the city. "A large number of workers cannot reach their offices well in time, while others have no option but to take leave from work because of lack of transport."
He also warned that the 500-million-rupee loss could be doubled in case there are no school summer vacations since the number of stuck-up vehicles in the low-lying areas could be much higher, which could have a direct impact on the economy. Another economist said multiple services have been badly affected because of immobility in the same areas. While a human rights activist warns of dangers for school children who often enjoy a swim in the flooded streets and squares to escape from the heat.