If you know about dangers before they happen, you can be better prepared for them. A calamitous scenario forecast by the Flood Forecasting Bureau in the shape of a statement that disasters could happen in these four days has frightened people already reeling from the shock of deaths and destruction in various parts of the country, particularly those in Balochistan.
Life in country's largest industrial and commercial centre, Karachi, in particular effectively went downhill soon after the pre-monsoon showers, affecting, among others, trade activities, on a massive scale.
Since the people whose job is to forecast the weather have made a statement about what will happen in these four days based on information that is available with them now, the onus of responsibility squarely lies with the government in particular to take all those steps that could help minimise losses and human hardship. However, unfortunately, the government appears to have taken a position which betrays its inability to take sensible decisions and come up with good advice based on experience and knowledge.
While chairing a high-level meeting at the weekend to review the losses caused by cyclone and the relief work carried out by the authorities in this regard, the prime minister, who is said to have exhibited a gift of prophesy, asked the government functionaries to adopt a pro-active approach towards any natural calamity. He told the meeting that the government was planning to use the weather information from Met Office for making "advance preparations" for the future cyclones and storms.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz doesn't need to boast, but he actually has delivered wonders for the nation in his over three years stay in the prime minister's house. But Aziz, who often boasts of his skills in the management of economy, has perhaps added a new and undoubtedly a big feather to his cap by saving the lives of over 14,000 people threatened by heavy rains and cyclone.
According to him, the death toll caused by rains and cyclone could have reached up to 15,000 if the shifting of people from vulnerable areas wasn't advanced [by several hours, at least]. It was his government that helped save precious lives by ensuring shifting of people from cyclone-threatened areas to safe places.
It looks the prime minister has failed to take something on board or fully assimilate and consider the present situation. Consider:
There are a very large number of people still marooned in huge swathes of Balochistan in particular. Although the rescue and relief operations particularly those launched by armed forces have evoked a great sigh of relief, the number of helicopters and boats and other operational gear is not just enough to effectively deal with the situation. Relief is not getting to a number of affected areas.
A large number of people are even threatened with the prospect of non-supply of drinking water. Scores of arteries and highways, including the prestigious Makran Coastal Highway, have been washed away at various points. Tear-gassing of protesters in Turbat, one of the worst-hit areas, bears testimony to the desperation and plight of people already wallowing in despair because of poverty and privation.
Newspapers in particular are full of pictures showing people moving their hands and arms about in order to attract attention and making the authorities understand what they are saying. But the authorities appear not much bothered about their wild and frantic gesticulations.
Not only has the director general ISPR Major General Waheed Arshad stated with a strong sense of pride that Pakistan needed no foreign aid to meet the challenges arising from heavy rains and cyclone, he nevertheless courageously admitted that a delay did occur in relief operations. Briefing newsmen, the DG ISPR has, however, linked the delay in relief works to an unprecedented scale and magnitude of disaster and a lack of proper information by saying that "the information on cyclone [by weather forecasters such as Met Office] was not clear".
Now the Flood Forecasting Bureau has forewarned about the four days. According to it, heavy rains in Sindh and Punjab can cause floods in major cities, flash floods in rivers and canals, collapse of roofs and walls. Torrential rains can also wash away katcha roads, uproot trees and dismantle billboards.
Since the government has now decided to utilise weather forecasters' information to its advantage for making better preparations before natural calamities happen, its plans and their execution in relation to the outcome of heavy rains and flash floods will be a litmus test of its concern for the life and property of people.
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