Pakistan’s Floods Reveal Political Disunity Amid Crisis
Floods have ravaged Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, displacing thousands and causing widespread destruction. Yet, instead of uniting, Pakistan’s politicians remain entrenched in partisan squabbles.
A brief moment of unity emerged during Monday’s National Assembly session, when routine business was suspended to address the disaster. That hope quickly faded as PTI lawmakers, following Imran Khan’s orders, boycotted a scheduled NDMA briefing. The session turned into another stage for political point-scoring rather than a forum for urgent action.
Both sides share blame. In previous months, PTI lawmakers criticized the Punjab government over flood preparedness, only for severe floods to hit KP. During the NA debate, ministers spent time promoting their own responses or blaming rivals. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif highlighted encroachments and poor planning, but also targeted a company in his constituency, mixing disaster response with politics.
Despite the political theatrics, Asif was correct in labeling the situation a “man-made disaster.” Governments have allowed housing on floodplains, neglected building codes, stalled dam projects, and failed to invest in adequate weather-monitoring systems. Pakistan has only 85 monitoring stations for nearly 800,000 sq km—far below international standards.
Past floods show it’s possible to do better. In 2010, leaders held all-party meetings and discussed an independent relief commission. This year’s floods demand similar realism. Survival depends on political unity and decisive action: completing dams, building local water-storage structures, strengthening disaster-resilient infrastructure, enforcing zoning laws, upgrading urban drainage, and expanding social protection for displaced families.
Climate change is intensifying these disasters. Three major floods in three provinces this summer alone highlight the urgent need for preparation. Floodwaters spare no political party, and neither should Pakistan’s leaders.
