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Pakistan, a country of 170 millions, is facing a time, it didn't experience earlier. Inflation, poverty, targeted killings, war on terror, loadshedding, bad governance, bomb blasts and now the reconstruction of flood-ravaged Pakistan.
Floods were more catastrophic than Tsunami and Haiti's earthquake, as observed by United Nations. This country has a mournful history of disasters, bad events, and failures that have always drawn attention of the world community, especially the "friends."
As regards, the recent floods and its disastrous effects, we blame global warming, we blame natural changes and heavy rains, but we do not blame ourselves. We do not blame the royal irrigation department and its kings and princes. We are not ready to accept that we have failed to make consensus over the construction of dams. We do not confess our faults, but we always blame nature and other immaterial things. However, it is a universal truth, which we will have to admit one day that until and unless we do not adopt a policy of surrender before the truth and confess our faults, we will be facing these calamities of time and nature.
We should also understand the ground reality that these floods have caused an enormous socio-economic disruption. Although its effects will be felt for years to come, but the present insurgency of bloody water has destroyed all walks of life collectively. The floodwaters have washed away millions of hectares of crops, submerged villages and destroyed roads and bridges.
Of course, this huge ruinous loss translates directly into massive economic burden on government's treasury, and ultimately on the shoulders of people. Our economy and agricultural strength has also been sunk into the bloody waters. For the government, it has to tackle two major problems, ie the settlement of displaced people and the flux of economic crisis, which can damage the continuation of the present democratic government.
Definitely, the settlement of displaced people is really a big concern. We can only pray, but we cannot feel the angst of these people. Allah knows better how they feel and they themselves do not know what their sin is.
We should also admit that dilemma of tangible issues, like how to settle the internally displaced peoples, and how to renovate and manage the government infrastructure and the schooling system in the flood affected areas requires a solid lucid schema, which should be publicised perceptibly. I think right planning for restructuring is a key to a successful journey.
Now, people are ready to go to their native areas, once the water goes away and they will be compensated by the government. Prime Minister Gilani has promised that the government will pay 100,000 rupees to each victim family, but here we humbly submit our request that people of the affected areas should be given equal opportunity in the implementation of projects, rehabilitation works while their basic rights could also be fulfilled and they can stand on their own feet. People should be employed and engaged in the reconstruction and restoration works instead of paying them cash, where frauds can be occurred and the government credibility can be challenged. We should also understand that settlement and compensation problem could only be resolved, if the fallen economy stabilises.
It would be better to call a round-table conference of the renowned economists, presidents of all the government and commercial banks, stock market lords, prominent businessmen and heads of securities and exchange companies to discuss the present and future economy of Pakistan and draw a policy, considering the ground realities, otherwise, we can presume a worst time, and once again, a humble writer like me shall be knocking on the hearts and brains, and crying: "Pakistan is facing a time; it never experienced earlier".

Copyright Business Recorder, 2010

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