Climate Calamity and Pakistan
By Syed Wakeel Ahmed
Climate Change ostensibly is an existential threat to the world compare to the past it is now becoming even more destructive to human life. The very recent report of IPCC “now or never” have shocked the world, which stated that the existential threat to the planet because of climate change. The recent IPCC’s report is not the first report but the third presumably, which is been warning countries about how climate calamity is pivotal to be countered sooner. The world is already witnessing heat raising each year and the weather changing anonymously, it’s a frightening issuance for the the third world countries and prime issue for the developing countries to burn the mid night oil in countering it, meetings by the world organisation on climate change have been happening each year where almost 190+ countries leaders ensure their presence, and the recent COP27 agenda, Likewise the G20 discussion in Indonesia for debt rescheduling for low-middle income developing countries like Pakistan have remained inconclusive, the Question is what are there performances to counter it thus far?
Amongst the third world countries hit by climate calamity, Pakistan is one of the most affected country recently that endure climate calamity in shape of devastating floods.
The recent catastrophic flood in Pakistan have ostensibly deface countries economy and infrastructure.
Pakistan which is amongst the countries most vulnerable to climate disasters but least prepared to counter it. While this country on one side is already witnessing political chaos and instability the climate crisis is yet another existing jeopardy that can push the country at the verge of collapse.
Recent report published by Pakistan’s economist stated that the chances of Pakistan defaulting are increased by 75 per cent.
According to (PDNA) the planning commission, Pakistan has incurred losses and damages of $30.2billion, or 4.8 per cent of this fiscal years GDP.
Inflation rate have extended to 30per cent in last 5 months, and poverty raised by 3.8pc in the country.
Moon soon hazardous floods have affected Balochistan’s and Sindhi’s rural areas which were the hub of producing fruits, vegetables and other food products and that’s one of the for-most reason increase in inflation.
One of the major problems created by climate change for Pakistan is affecting daily life, spreading viruses, creating health issues, The floods have sabotaged the rural areas badly which forced people to migrate to other places, some were shifted to schools and other’s to various places.
Educational system is apparently in danger as institutions are closed due to high water, Schools are converted into stay house for the flood affected.
The rise of virus and illness have ruthless increased.
According to health sector’s report after the floods in Pakistan “the rise in dengue virus has reached anonymously to peak”. On other side there is a huge challenge for the government of Pakistan to overcome demolition happened due to climate change.
Government officials have been asking for financial help from the world, and (IMF) but apparently the damage won’t be counter by aid only, indeed the infrastructural damage requires large amount which presumably is a hanging issue for the state.
Apart from that, A proper grass root work has to be done by the government to help the poor build there houses, to make the daily life normal again, where unfortunately in the country political chaos are the breaking news and at peak, politicians are busy in targeting each other economy at tailspin the flood have remained a sideline news since then.
There is only been one organisation hardly found working for the poor and flood affected that is “Al-khidmat foundation”which since the first day remained busy in helping the flood affected, providing food facilities.
Political leaders has to get on one page to work for the betterment of their people, and stability in politics is quietly important to counter the upcoming challenges of climate change, or else the levelling situation in country created by flood won’t be easy to counter.
The struggle for climate justice, then, is both global and local. It is, I repeat, the single most important concern to the world at the moment. And for the record it is not unrelated shenanigans of Pakistan’s elite. Our ruling class would rather that we obsess about palace intrigues forever rather than interrogate their ruthless profiteering.
The world specifically the economic powers likes USA, China, Russia has to take it way serious to counter the climate calamity in near future.
The writer is a Student studying journalism at University of Balochistan
Twitter : imwakeel05
Email: ahmedwakeel147@gmail.com
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